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Helping Clients Achieve Citizenship and Encouraging Civic Participation

Partnership for Citizenship Program

Program Overview
Understanding and applying the principles of democracy and fulfilling civic duties are an important part of newcomers’ integration into U.S. society.  When refugees and immigrants arrive in the United States they have much to learn about, and much to contribute to, what it means to be an American.  USCRI’s Partnership for Citizenship Program, launched through a Citizenship AmeriCorps Initiative with funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service, helps give newcomers the opportunity to start down the path to citizenship and to learn how to participate in their larger communities. As they assist newcomers in becoming active participants in U.S. society, AmeriCorps members also learn a great deal about their own civic engagement, and about the rewards of service to others. 

USCRI’s Participation
USCRI coordinates the efforts of the Corporation for National and Community Service,  partner agencies and other implementing agencies, and AmeriCorps members.  USCRI provides materials and technical assistance to ensure that the program meets its objectives and that the AmeriCorps members, participating agencies, communities and clients have a meaningful and rewarding experience that fosters civic participation, inclusive communities and responsible citizenship.

Partner and Implementing Agencies’ Participation
Each of the community-based organizations that hosts one or more of USCRI’s thirty-seven Citizenship AmeriCorps members provides training and guidance to AmeriCorps members as they strive to increase the number of new citizens, recruit and train community volunteers, and enhance the experience and knowledge of all involved. Each agency has a unique program designed to assist clients through English language instruction and civics classes, preparation of application forms, mock citizenship interviews, and other ways of learning about the rights and privileges that come with U.S. citizenship.  Learn about the USCRI partner and implementing agencies that participate in the Partnership for Citizenship Program.  

Communities’ Participation
Community participation is essential to the Partnership for Citizenship Program.  Community volunteers assist in all of the activities of the Citizenship AmeriCorps members and the participating sites.  As they assist newcomers to prepare to become citizens, volunteers themselves gain a deeper appreciation of the foreign-born members of their community.  They learn about other parts of the world, and gain a broader perspective.

Clients’ Participation
In the 2004/2005 program year, USCRI assisted 2725 eligible clients, of whom 740 were naturalized in the first year of the program. Citizenship AmeriCorps members recruited and trained 251 volunteers who worked 4867 hours toward the goals set out by the program.

Partner and Implementing Agencies

Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, Dearborn, MI;
Boat People SOS, Falls Church, VA; Springfield, VA; Atlanta, GA; Houston, TX; St. Louis, MO;
Coalition of African, Asian, European, and Latino Immigrants of Illinois (CAAELII), Chicago, IL;
Cambodian Community Development Inc., Oakland, CA;
International Institute of Boston, Boston, MA;
International Institute of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN;
International Institute of Rhode Island, Providence, RI
Lincoln Action Program, Lincoln, NE;
Lutheran Community Services Northwest, Portland, OR, and Vancouver, WA;
Nationalities Service Center, Philadelphia, PA
San Luis Valley Immigrant Resource Center, Alamosa, CO;
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, St. Paul, MN;
USCRI – Albany, NY
USCRI – Colchester, VT