Refugee Youth Services

Nearly half of the approximately 60,000 refugees currently living in the state of Utah are women and children. Youth from refugee backgrounds face unique challenges when adjusting to life in the United States. We provide and coordinate comprehensive services and support programs for both refugee youth, their families and program providers — essential for successful integration of refugee families.

Youth Conference

The annual Refugee Youth Conference, established in 2010, engages with and reaches youth with refugee backgrounds. The conference gives refugee youth the chance to network with each other and learn more about higher education and post-secondary career opportunities. 

Training & Resources: Working with Refugee Youth

We provide a comprehensive training for individuals and groups interested in working with refugee youth. The training includes:

• Refugee 101 – Learn more about the path that refugees take to get here
• Refugees in Utah – The many ways our community has been enriched by having those with refugee backgrounds living here
• Resources to support program providers and educators about how to best serve refugee youth and their families

Additional training materials:

• Bridging Refugee Youth & Children's Services
• Migration Policy Institute
• Utah Education Network (UEN)

Refugee Youth Advisory Committee

• November 2015/December 2015 Meeting Minutes
• Goal: Promote parent engagement with refugee youths’ education, out of school time, recreation, and other interests.
• Focus Areas:
  Early Childhood – There are gaps for providers and refugee families in accessing the best resources for youth 0-5 years old. By connecting refugee families to current early intervention resources, high-quality preschool programs, and working on innovative projects focused on this age group, we hope to see better outcomes and for youth’s future success.
  
  Non-Participating Youth – There are many resources for school-aged refugee youth, but many are not accessing existing quality programming or services. We would like to identify these youth and determine what barriers are preventing them from accessing programs and services in and out of school.
  
  Graduation Readiness – Refugee youth are struggling with being ready to graduate from high school; especially if they arrived at a later age. They don’t have enough time to learn English and get enough credits to graduate high school. We would like to advocate for innovative ways to keep refugee youth in high school longer so they are able to complete the needed credits and earn enough English to succeed here in the United States.

• How you can help
  Contact Alexx Goeller for more information or if you would like to share any support services that your organization offers refugee youth.

• Youth Resources - Salt Lake County Youth Refugee Program Map

Contact Information

Utah Refugee Services Office

• Youth Coordinator: Alexx Goeller

School District Liaisons

• Granite School District: Danjuma Alcala
• Canyons School District: Analis Ruiz
• Salt Lake School District: Christal Rattanavilay