Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Inc. is the refugee resettlement office in the state of Kentucky for two national church-based programs: The Episcopal Migration Ministries and Church World Service. Kentucky Refugee Ministries is authorized by the U.S. Dept. of State to assist refugees who have been legally admitted to the United States, as victims of warfare or other forms of persecution because of their religious or political beliefs.

Description:
Refugees come to this country as victims of trauma, as people who have lost their homes and families because of war, as people hoping for peace and freedom as they begin life anew. Our program provides them with apartments and furnishing, helps enroll children in school, gets families to medical treatment, and secures employment for family members who are able to go to work. Refugees come from very diverse educational and skill backgrounds, and we attempt to place the refugee in the best jobs available, given the client's language ability, background, training and experience. Long term assistance include job upgrades, assistance with certain immigration processes and classes and assistance preparing individuals to become naturalized American citizens.

History:
The Lexington office of Kentucky Refugee Ministries opened nine years ago. Our parent office in Louisville began in 1990 as an outreach of the Presbyterian denomination, shortly after the location of the Presbyterian Church (USA) headquarters in Louisville. It then expanded to include all of the Protestant denominations which make up the National Council of Churches, and then in 1994, added affiliation with the Episcopal Migration Ministries, the resettlement program of the Episcopal Church.

Contact person: Karissa Porter, Youth Services Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (859) 226-9631

Address:

201 East Maxwell Street Lexington, KY 40508 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.kyrm.org