Ohio leaders host summit to prepare to welcome any Ukrainian refugees

On Mar 18, 2022

UNITED BEHIND UKRAINE AND PRESIDT ENZELENSKYY. >> GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE SAYS OHIO WILL WELCOME ANY REFUGEES WHO COME FROM UKRAINE. A SUMMIT WAS HELD IN PARMA TO MAP OUT HOW THE STATE WILL TAKE IN THOSE WHO NEED LP.HE RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES, NON-PROFITS AND FAITH-BASED GROUPS GATHERING FOR THE EVENT. THERE’S NO WORD YET FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT IT’’ LIKELY OHIO COULD RESELETT FAMILIES IN THE COMING WEEKS, OR MONTHS. >> AS A STATE, WE’RE SIMYPL TRYING TO GET READY, AND NOT JUST US GET ADREY, BUT FRANKLY DIFFERENT GROUPS WHO WANT TO BE HELPL ANFUD INFORM THEM OF HOW THIS NORMALLY DOES WORK. >> AT LEAST 60 ORGANIZATNS WERE REPRESENTED AT THE SUMMIT ALL

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says Ohio will welcome any refugees who come from Ukraine.A summit was held in Parma Thursday to map out how the state will take in those who need help.“We are gathered today because we are concerned about the people of Ukraine. We are concerned about families who have been forced out of their homes, their neighborhoods, and their country because of the unprovoked, brutal invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin and his military,” DeWine said. “But we are here to get started, to plan, to get ready, and to brainstorm so we are prepared if, as a state, we are asked to help support those families.”More than 110 people representing at least 60 organizations attended, including resettlement agencies, nonprofits and faith-based groups.“None of us know if, or when, we might be called upon to provide assistance,” said ODJFS Director Matt Damschroder. “But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be prepared so Ohio can be the most effective in helping any potential refugees. This is the perfect time and opportunity to bring together the many organizations that could play a role in the relocation of Ukrainian families.”Speakers like Jennifer Johnson, State Refugee Coordinator for ODJFS, gave information on the resettlement process like how housing and employment would work. There’s no word yet from the federal government, but it’s likely Ohio could resettle families in the coming weeks or months.”As a state, we’re simply trying to get ready, and not just us get ready, but frankly different groups who want to be helpful and inform them of how this normally does work,” DeWine said. Since 2018, more than 500 Ukrainians have been resettled in Ohio, mostly in Cleveland. Many were resettled due to the Lautenberg Amendment, a federal program established in 1990 that allows religious minorities from the former Soviet Union to seek refuge in the United States. More than 14,000 Ukrainian nationals have been resettled in the U.S. under the Amendment in the past five years.

PARMA, Ohio —

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says Ohio will welcome any refugees who come from Ukraine.

A summit was held in Parma Thursday to map out how the state will take in those who need help.

“We are gathered today because we are concerned about the people of Ukraine. We are concerned about families who have been forced out of their homes, their neighborhoods, and their country because of the unprovoked, brutal invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin and his military,” DeWine said. “But we are here to get started, to plan, to get ready, and to brainstorm so we are prepared if, as a state, we are asked to help support those families.”

More than 110 people representing at least 60 organizations attended, including resettlement agencies, nonprofits and faith-based groups.

“None of us know if, or when, we might be called upon to provide assistance,” said ODJFS Director Matt Damschroder. “But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be prepared so Ohio can be the most effective in helping any potential refugees. This is the perfect time and opportunity to bring together the many organizations that could play a role in the relocation of Ukrainian families.”

Speakers like Jennifer Johnson, State Refugee Coordinator for ODJFS, gave information on the resettlement process like how housing and employment would work.

There’s no word yet from the federal government, but it’s likely Ohio could resettle families in the coming weeks or months.

“As a state, we’re simply trying to get ready, and not just us get ready, but frankly different groups who want to be helpful and inform them of how this normally does work,” DeWine said.

Since 2018, more than 500 Ukrainians have been resettled in Ohio, mostly in Cleveland. Many were resettled due to the Lautenberg Amendment, a federal program established in 1990 that allows religious minorities from the former Soviet Union to seek refuge in the United States. More than 14,000 Ukrainian nationals have been resettled in the U.S. under the Amendment in the past five years.