Honors Program

 

Date of this Version

Spring 3-16-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

Johnson, Emily. State Policy Outcomes on Refugee Integration and Success. Undergraduate Honors Thesis. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. March 2020.

Comments

Copyright Emily Johnson 2020

Abstract

Though U.S. refugee resettlement is primarily managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the process of ensuring refugee success upon arrival often relies on state-level policy. In this research, I analyze the relationship between state resettlement policies, including welfare distribution, ESL education, and publicly-funded resettlement programs, and refugee social and economic outcomes, including employment, home ownership, and English proficiency. My findings indicate that there is a slight positive relationship between state resettlement service accessibility and refugee employment, home ownership, and English proficiency. However, analysis results regarding state welfare policy and ESL education produced null results. Ultimately, I recommend increased strategic data collection in refugee communities on both the state and federal level to guide evidence-based policy.

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