Colorado African Resource Network

What challenges are Immigrants/Refugees facing in Colorado?

Challenges include…

• Lack of education

• Lack of English skills

• Unemployment

• Mental health issues

• Health problems, including severe dental problems

• Unfamiliarity with U.S. systems (e.g. transportation, social services, healthcare, schools, banking, etc)

• Safety concerns (e.g. traffic signs, warning labels, etc.)

• In some cases, lack of familiarity with basic amenities (e.g. escalators, toilets, computers, etc.
• Bad Credit may be built from not understanding Bill Payments
• Courts cases created for being blamed for traffic accidents because of inability to explain in English what occurred.

 

 

Immigrants/Refugees in Colorado have struggled to integrate into the local community because of language barriers, limited employment opportunities, a lack of knowledge of available resources, and inadequate understandings of U.S. customs and institutions.

 

Colorado Refugees face some of the same challenges as their fellow immigrants, but many did not plan to migrate to America, and frequently their unfamiliarity with U.S. culture and the English language makes it difficult for them to find work, develop community bonds and access important services related to education, housing, employment and health care.

 

Colorado Immigrants/Refugees need accessibility to interpreters, improved coordination of social services that assist refugee populations, lessons about U.S. practices and cultural expectations, and connecting them with mental health services. Many refugees display signs of post-traumatic stress, depression and other mental health issues, oftentimes stemming from the atrocities and brutal violence they witnessed before fleeing their homelands.

 

Colorado Immigrants/Refugees must successfully integrate into their new communities, and that usually entails securing employment, developing relationships, and identifying and accessing health and education services. But the inability of many refugees to proficiently speak and understand English makes it hard for them to obtain good jobs, and routinely they are forced to accept positions that do not match their qualifications, educational credentials and previous work experiences.