The Florida Department of Children and Families’ Refugee Services Program is federally funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Department of Health and Human Services to assist refugees to achieve economic self-sufficiency and social adjustment within the shortest possible time after their arrival in the United States.
While in recent years the number of arrivals has decreased nationwide, the State of Florida’s refugee program is the largest in the nation, receiving more than 5,000 refugees, asylees, and Cuban/Haitian entrants each year.
Refugee Services’ clients all have a legal immigration status. Some are admitted to the United States by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) through its refugee “Reception and Placement” program. DOS contracts with national refugee resettlement agencies to assist resettled refugees during their first three months in the United States. However, only about 8% of Florida’s refugee client population enters the U.S. through the DOS program. A majority of our refugee clients are Cuban entrants who enter the United States through other programs or channels.
Cubans account for more than 80% of the arrivals to the state each year. However, the state’s refugee program serves clients from more than 50 countries in 40 or more Florida counties.
Traditionally, the majority of Cubans arriving in Florida reunite with family already here; 80% settle in Miami, which is also home to many Haitian, Venezuelan and Colombian refugees and asylees. The second largest refugee group in Florida is Haitians, who often present for services as asylum applicants or asylees. Jacksonville is a primary resettlement site for refugees that arrive through the DOS resettlement program. As such, Jacksonville receives diverse refugee populations, including Burmese, Bhutanese, Iraqis, Eritreans, and others. Resettlement on Florida’s west coast varies greatly. Hillsborough and Pinellas counties (Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater) receive many Cubans, but also other nationalities, including Burmese and Egyptians. In central Florida, the Orlando area also sees a number of Cuban and Haitian arrivals as well as a smaller numbers of refugees of other nationalities.
Many people are not familiar with the different immigration classifications for individuals entering this country. The term “immigrant” encompasses a wide range of people who enter the United States through different channels, both regular and irregular, and who have different immigration statuses. Congress determines which groups are eligible for benefits and services provided through the Refugee Services program. All eligible Refugee Services clients have one of the following legal immigration statuses:
While in recent years the number of arrivals has decreased nationwide, the State of Florida’s refugee program is the largest in the nation, receiving more than 5,000 refugees, asylees, and Cuban/Haitian entrants each year.
Refugee Services’ clients all have a legal immigration status. Some are admitted to the United States by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) through its refugee “Reception and Placement” program. DOS contracts with national refugee resettlement agencies to assist resettled refugees during their first three months in the United States. However, only about 8% of Florida’s refugee client population enters the U.S. through the DOS program. A majority of our refugee clients are Cuban entrants who enter the United States through other programs or channels.
The Director of Refugee Services is based in Tallahassee. Program staff are mostly located in Tallahassee and Miami; Refugee Services Community Liaisons, who are the program’s direct link to community partners and refugees, are located in each DCF Regional Office: Northeast (Jacksonville), Northwest (Tallahassee), Central (Orlando), SunCoast (Tampa), Southeast (West Palm Beach), and Southern (Miami). Community Liaisons facilitate Refugee Task Force meetings in each community with large numbers of refugees.
The Task Forces meet bi-monthly and include refugee resettlement agencies, contracted providers, federal, state and local government agencies, refugee-led self-help organizations, and other entities and individuals concerned with refugees. The meetings provide opportunities to coordinate referrals and services, assess emerging needs of refugees, solve problems, and disseminate federal and state policies.
Cuba is the country of origin of most refugee clients in Florida; however, Florida's refugees come from over 40 different home countries, including Cuba, Haiti, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Mexico and Chile were the top nationalities of new refugees in the last Federal Fiscal year.
Refugees resettled primarily in Miami-Dade County with significant populations in Hillsborough, Broward, Duval, Palm Beach, Orange, Lee, and Collier Counties.
Refugee Services is 100% federally funded.
Resettlement of refugees is governed by federal law - Refugee Act of 1980, Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, Regulated at 45 Code of Federal Regulations Part 400 and 401, 409.953, F.S. Admission to the U.S. of other categories of persons eligible for Refugee Services is also governed by Federal laws and policies.
Refugee cash and medical assistance benefits are available for a maximum of eight months following arrival to the United States to needy refugees who are not eligible for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid. This refugee assistance is paid entirely from federal funds through DCF’s existing FLORIDA system within the ACCESS/Economic Self-Sufficiency program structure.
Support services are provided through contracts with nonprofit organizations, local government agencies, and private entities to assist refugees and entrants meet the goal of economic self-sufficiency and successful integration. Services are contracted within the state’s regulations governing the acquisition of services, including competitive bidding requirements. Current services include:
Eligibility for programs of Refugee Services is determined by federal law and includes the following:
The following chart reflects clients entering Florida each federal fiscal year. DCF's website also includes data for the Refugee Services Program on additional clients accessing services tracked by their date of entry into the U.S.
| Florida's Arrival Population over Five Years Total | |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 35,749 |
| 2018 | 8,456 |
| 2019 | 17,188 |
| 2020 | 6,118 |
| 2021 | 30,255 |
| Federal Fiscal Year | Cuban / Haitian Entrants |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 32,661 |
| 2018 | 6,101 |
| 2019 | 14,689 |
| 2020 | 4,662 |
| 2021 | 29,023 |
| Federal Fiscal Year | Refugees |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2,371 |
| 2018 | 739 |
| 2019 | 878 |
| 2020 | 412 |
| 2021 | 696 |
| Federal Fiscal Year | Asylees |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 415 |
| 2018 | 1,478 |
| 2019 | 1,530 |
| 2020 | 966 |
| 2021 | 373 |
| Federal Fiscal Year | SIV |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 229 |
| 2018 | 105 |
| 2019 | 51 |
| 2020 | 49 |
| 2021 | 85 |
| Federal Fiscal Year | VOT |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 73 |
| 2018 | 33 |
| 2019 | 40 |
| 2020 | 29 |
| 2021 | 33 |
| Federal Fiscal Year | Afghan Parolees |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 45 |
Refugee Services currently manages more than a dozen refugee services contracts with state agencies, local governments, and community-based organizations. The Department of Health provides health screenings to ensure newly arrived refugee clients do not have communicable diseases and to identify health issues. AHCA provides payment for Refugee Medical Assistance services in accordance with Medicaid rules, with Federal Funding.
Benefits and services are provided as permitted under CFR 45 Part 400 and 401. Refugee clients who are eligible for TANF and Medicaid may apply for and receive those benefits. Those who are ineligible for those programs may apply for and receive Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA). In FFY 2021, more than 14,989 clients received RCA, more than 16,301 received RMA and more than 3,720 received TANF. RCA and RMA are limited to eight months of assistance after arrival in the U.S.
In FFY 2021, Refugee Services provided an estimated 38,092 unduplicated clients with services including employment, adult education, Refugee Medical and Cash Assistance and health screening. In FFY 2021, Refugee Services provided 5,783 English language classes to 3,678 clients, 804 vocational training classes to 306 clients and childcare to 149 clients. Refugee Services helped 3,464 refugee clients obtain unsubsidized employment, with 83% retaining jobs for at least 90 days in FFY 2021.