DWS News
DWS News Release
February 13, 2008
Contact: Curt Stewart (801) 526-4315
Director of Refugee Services Office Appointed
Governor Huntsman Establishes Refugee Board of
Advisors
Salt Lake City - Kristen Cox, Executive Director of the Department of Workforce Services has appointed Mr. Gerald Brown as the Director of the Refugee Services Office.
Governor Jon Huntsman announced the creation of the Refugee Services Office in November 2007 after recommendations from a Refugee Working Group co-chaired by Governor Huntsman and Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon. The recommendations were the result of an in-depth review of the present refugee resettlement system, its gaps and strengths. A key recommendation of that group was to establish a Refugee Services Office to be housed in the Department of Workforce Services.
Mr. Brown has more than 25 years of professional experience working with refugees at the local, national, and international levels, both in the private sector and for the federal government. His refugee work began in 1981 in Houston, Texas, providing direct services to newly resettled refugees. In 1985 he became the national Director of Refugee Services for one of the twelve national resettlement organizations, the American Council of Nationalities Service (now the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants). Since 1980, Gerald has worked as a consultant and technical assistance provider related to domestic refugee service programs and has provided technical assistance to organizations receiving grants from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Gerald brings extensive international, national and local experience to this position, said Kristen Cox. His keen understanding of the needs of each unique segment of Utahs refugee community will allow us to address the key issues identified by the study group.
"I congratulate Gerald Brown on being selected as Director of Refugee Services and look forward to working with him," said Mayor Corroon. "Salt Lake County is proud to collaborate with the State of Utah in providing services to the refugees that come to our community. Refugees come to Utah with an opportunity to create a new life for themselves and their families. Our efforts will help them create this new life.
The Governor will also establish a Board of Advisors in the Executive Office of the Department of Community and Culture to provide support and advice to the Refugee Services Office. The Refugee Services Office Director will be a member of this board. Palmer DePaulis, Executive Director of the Department of Community and Culture, will serve as chairman of the board. The membership of the board will represent key stakeholders in the refugee community, service providers in state and local governments, and representatives of the greater community.\
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Curt Stewart
Public Information Officer
Utah Department of Workforce Services
801-526-4315