Last month, it was announced that Owensboro would soon become the home for 100 humanitarian parolees from Afghanistan. Humanitarian parole is granted based on an urgent humanitarian need for those who don’t have the usual amount of time to finish the vetting process and complete refugee status.
Anna Allen, Site Director for the Owensboro office of the International Center of Kentucky, said that typically refugee status is something that is granted by the United Nations and is subject to a nearly two-year vetting process. However, the United States is granting the Afghans humanitarian parole to help expedite the process.
According to Allen, many of the families will have a least one person in their family that speaks English because many of them were interpreting for the U.S. troops overseas. Allen said they are also enrolled in Owensboro Community and Technical College’s English Language Learners (ELL) program.
With the help of the International Center, the new Owensboroans will be receiving aid and support to make their transition easier. This aid comes in the form of what they call an orientation highlighting housing, employment and career-building, introduction to American culture, and more.
This year the Center is introducing counseling services for all clients. They will be able to offer group and individual counseling sessions with a licensed therapist in town.
“Most of our clients are working within 90 days and most of them are completely off government assistance within one year. I’d say we probably have about 98% of our clients are off government assistance within four months,” Allen said.
The Center has an office on the backside of Owensboro Christian Church in Suite N.
Allen said the Center is always taking donations for the clients.
“One of the best parts of my job is I get to see my country through new eyes every single day,” Allen said.
