A service provider involved in resettling Congolese
nationals in one Florida county recently explained a key issue facing the Tallahassee
area is also facing school districts across the entire state, “especially those
with Congolese refugees.”
Documented in the minutes of a March
12, 2019 Refugee Task Force meeting held in Leon County, home of Tallahassee,
the state capitol, comes this informative nugget from the state refugee
services program director:
“Patti Grogan, The Refugee Services Program Director made the
first presentation to give the participants a historical perspective to the
growth and status of the program during the past 15-20 years. This perspective
was compared to the political events of the previous years to what is currently
occurring during 2019. As services for refugees have only begun to take effect
during the past 5 years in Leon County most participants did not have a frame
of reference from previous years.
She explained that the other refugee services programs in Florida
have experienced a huge decrease in the numbers of new clients arriving in
their counties. Ms. Grogan did confirm that many of the challenges and
important issues facing refugees in Tallahassee are also being experienced
around Florida especially those with Congolese refugees.”
A second presentation by Ms. Bilic from International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Comprehensive Refugee Services provider in the
NW Region, Leon County followed up with:
“The educational system is feeling the stress with so many
refugees in a few schools while working with those who have never attended
school before while in refugee camps.
As IRC reminds the participants that while addressing the
important need of learning English in the schools, the students are struggling
with reading and writing skills. Mr Beasley will focus his efforts on the
tutoring needs of the children during both their R&P and Case Management
involvement. The students are eager to go to school, but the older students
often struggle at first with their social involvement. “
Data extracted from the Refugee Processing Center reveal
1754 Congolese refugees were resettled in eleven
Florida cities between January 1, 2015 and May 31, 2019.
County Examiner contacted a representative of the State of
Florida – Department of Children and Families, Refugee Services Program with
questions about this task force report and will publish additional information when
we receive a response.
