Refugee Resettlement and Émigré Programs

JFS SV provides resettlement support services, English and citizenship training, and community connection to hundreds of refugees and émigrés who have recently arrived in Silicon Valley.

Resettlement services for families and individuals
Extensive ESL and citizenship classes, including classes specifically designed for seniors, whose needs are different from their younger relatives
Bilingual health education and wellness workshops
Jewish holiday celebrations and social integration
Russian Jewish War Veterans connections and support

Immigration Law Clinic

Jewish Family Services and the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association, Silicon Valley Chapter (AILA) launched a pro bono immigration law clinic in November to serve the needs of immigrants in the South Bay.

Attorneys from the law firms of Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP; Byrd & Associates Immigration Law Firm; and Daniel Shanfield – Immigration Defense participated in the clinic. They provided clients with valuable legal advice and assistance relating to all areas of immigration law.

Clients who came to this country as asylees or refugees (those who fled their home countries because of persecution) can now receive help to complete green card applications and fee waiver applications to ameliorate the costs of the application fees (totaling well over a thousand dollars.)

See schedule.

ESL Programs

A strong program of training in English as a Second Language (ESL) includes vocabulary development, job search skills (including resume development), conversation, and counseling.

For our Russian community

JFS SV offers ESL classes for Russian émigrés, with special classes designed to accommodate issues and needs specifically for seniors. The agency also produces a Russian Language newsletter to facilitate communication about JFS SV and to help Russian émigrés communicate with each other.

JFS SV staff also help facilitate many Russian social/cultural clubs, including those for World War II Russian Jewish War Veterans (see photo above).

For more information about our services for refugees and émigrés, please contact:

Resettlement Services:

Azita Eshagh
Resettlement Coordinator
azitae@jfssv.org
(408) 357-7457

Émigré Programs:

Galina Chyorny
Coordinator of Holocaust Survivor and Emigre Services
galinac@jfssv.org
(408) 357-7458