The Iowa Bureau of Refugee Services (BRS) is a federally funded office of the Iowa Department of Human Services and is charged with supporting the resettlement of refugees in Iowa. BRS works with a network of resettlement agencies (RA) across Iowa who do the bulk of the direct resettlement work with refugees. Learn more about the RAs and the work they do on our Resources page.
The goal of any resettlement program is for refugees to become self-sustaining, productive Iowans as quickly as possible. This is accomplished through diverse programming that helps refugees find sustainable employment, safe and affordable housing, and other services to help refugees feel welcome in their new home state.
BRS has accomplished this work since 1975 with the arrival of 300 Tai Dam refugees who had fled Vietnam to Laos and Thailand. Since then, refugees from Cambodia, Poland, Bosnia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Sudan, Burma, and many other countries have been resettled in Iowa through the assistance and support of BRS. Today, that support continues with Afghan Refugees, and providing support to those wishing to sponsor Ukrainian refugees in Iowa.
Ukraine Refugees
Iowa is Uniting for Ukraine. 100,000 people are being forced to flee Ukraine and seek safe haven in the United States. But they need the support of a sponsor. And that can be you. Learn more at our resources page or at http://ukraine.welcome.us.
Learn more about the Uniting for Ukraine Support Line here.
Afghanistan Refugees
The Bureau of Refugee Services has supported the resettlement of Afghan Refugees who fled Afghanistan in 2021 after the Taliban took over the city of Kabul. Since then, more than 900 Afghan refugees have made their home in Iowa.
Services We Provide
Iowa Bureau of Refugee Services (BRS) has served refugees in Iowa since 1975 when Tai Dam refugees began arriving after fleeing SE Asia. BRS has helped refugees resettle in Iowa from many countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Bhutan, Sudan, South Sudan, Burma (Myanmar), Afghanistan, Ukraine, Somalia, Iraq, Eritrea, Rwanda, Liberia and more. BRS partners with Resettlement Agencies (RA) throughout Iowa for a majority of direct resettlement work.
In partnership with Iowa Finance Authority
BRS meets with landlords across Iowa to identify housing opportunities for future refugees.
BRS educates landlords on the resettlement process and negotiates with them to protect their interests and ensure inclusivity for refugees.
BRS helps resolve issues between landlords and tenants, supports resettlement agencies and identifies community resources for sustainable refugee living.
Transportation is offered for employment, medical appointments and training classes given or funded by BRS.
The BRS Commercial Driver’s License Program (CDL) helps refugees who have resided in the U.S. for less than five years gain certification for a driving career.
In partnership with Iowa Workforce Development, BRS partners with refugee communities, employers, community colleges, nonprofits and state and local agencies to create inclusive and sustainable career paths to help refugees become self-sufficient and work toward a high quality of life that fits with their goals and values.
BRS partners with refugee communities, employers, community colleges, nonprofits and state and local agencies to create inclusive and sustainable career paths to help refugees become self-sufficient and work toward a high quality of life that fits with their goals and values.
The WHO has found that PM+ effectively improves the social and emotional well-being of refugees.
The Iowa Refugee Wellness Program (IRWP) helps refugees in Iowa who have difficulty navigating the healthcare system by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate medical and mental health services. IRWP will:
Support refugees by assessing their needs, scheduling medical and mental health appointments and providing transportation, interpretation and translation services.
Assist with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability applications, SSI-aged applications and appropriate waivers.
Make referrals and recommendations to various community service providers and partners for support and services.
As a result of these services, refugees demonstrate greater self-sufficiency and improved overall well-being.
The BRS office is a welcoming space with facilities that refugees and community groups can use.
Classes and workshops to help refugees adjust to life in Iowa.
An open computer lab is free to use during office hours.
The Afghan Legal League of Iowa (ALL Iowa) is a team effort of the University of Iowa College of Law, Drake University Law School, and the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (MMJ). ALL Iowa receives funding from a grant from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. ALL Iowa offers immigration legal services to Afghans in Iowa, which are essential to protect them from risks associated with a lack of a permanent immigration status. ALL Iowa will:
Engage with communities statewide.
Provide direct legal representation of Afghan nationals before federal immigration agencies.
Support and enhance the work of lawyers and organizations serving Afghans in Iowa.
Increase access to immigration legal services in Iowa.
Research best practices and distribute educational materials about immigration laws and policies.
BRS helps refugees apply for Iowa family benefit programs and connects refugee families with community resources. Our benefit programs include:
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Medicaid
Family Investment Program (FIP)
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) for refugees in their first year in the United States. BRS is the only agency in the state that provides direct services to RCA participants.
BRS can connect refugees with interpretation services if there is a language barrier in accessing BRS services.
