Local coalitions are important vehicles for

communication, service coordination and

collaborations involving providers of specialized

integration services as well as other agencies

serving newcomers.

This group includes Grand Rapids refugee service

providers, school districts, health care providers,

and others. The group meets every other month to

share information about new developments.

WIAM is an informal group established in 1999

as an outgrowth of a statewide immigration advocacy

group. The participants are primarily people who

work with immigrants on a daily basis, as staff

members or volunteers from organizations such as

the Family Independence Agency, church ministries,

immigrant assistance programs, migrant worker

legal assistance, etc. WIAM focuses on education,

networking, and advocating on immigration issues.

These coalitions reflect what appears to be a

growing trend toward collaborative efforts involving

newcomer service providers. Examples of this

trend include:

• Training opportunities on newcomer issues,

including workshops on refugee mental health

issues, offered by Bethany Christian Services,

and a recent one-day conference on issues

related to the planned arrival of Somali Bantu

refugees, sponsored by Catholic Human

Development Outreach.

• Collaborative approaches to addressing

system issues, such as developing a common

agency referral form and working with the

Secretary of State’s office on procedures

for gaining identification documents and

driver’s licenses for newcomers.

• Co-sponsorship of projects, such as a holiday

party for Sudanese refugees and a visit by a

Sudanese bishop.

Most newcomer service providers depend on

a combination of federal and state grants, foundation

grants, and donations to fund their services. And

most of these service providers face both a growing

demand for their services and increasing funding

challenges related to current economic conditions,

including federal and state budget cuts and decreased

donor contributions. In this difficult economic

climate, collaborative efforts play an increasingly

important role in helping agencies maximize

resources.