UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2016-04483 Doc No. C06334617 Date: 06/15/2017 RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE (IRC) — SAN DIEGO PRM MONITORING REPORT RELEASE IN FULL June 2016 1. The affiliate should address issues noted by monitors in homes visited to ensure that the unsanitary odor is eliminated, kitchen flooring and stove are repaired, and that missing basic necessities are provided, so that housing conforms to requirements outlined in the Cooperative Agreement, Section 16.g.4) a) i., iv., b) i., v. Response: IRC San Diego resettlement staff followed up with the four families that had home visits during the week of June 20th, 2016. IRC resettlement staff counseled the families on topics including understanding their budget, bringing family members from overseas, connection to services, and a review of address and telephone numbers for adults in the household. IRC staff also counseled Family H on cleaning and household sanitation, properly disposing of waste, and how to report maintenance problems to the landlord and/or to IRC San Diego in a timely manner so that issues can be resolved promptly. IRC staff counseled specific families on additional housing options in the San Diego community. REVIEW AUTHORITY: Charles Lahiguera, Senior Reviewer 2. The affiliated should ensure that refugees are provided decent, safe, and sanitary housing based on federal housing quality standards, that housing should provide minimum habitable area, including number of bedrooms or sleeping areas, and that each case file includes evidence that housing was provided in accordance with this agreement, as required by the Cooperative Agreement, Sections 16g.4) a), a) iii. And 16 g.2) e). IRC San Diego has expanded its housing search to include new areas in the County such as Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, and Southeast San Diego in order to increase options of affordable, safe, sanitary housing. IRC minimizes the time that clients spend in temporary, overcrowded housing situations. When a client selects housing that does not meet IRCs standards, staff counsel the client and offer assistance to locate suitable arrangements. Case file operating procedures were also reviewed with all resettlement staff during July 2016 resettlement team meetings so that demonstration of compliance is clear in all case note entries, including accurate housing safety checklists and follow-up at point of service delivery. 3. The affiliate should ensure that refugees are able to demonstrate or achieve the following R&P performance outcomes: know where to access health care, know where to get assistance to file p'aperwork to bring family members to the U.S., know how to ask for interpreter services, are financially supported, can explain where the household money will come from when the initial assistance is finished, know their address, know how to make a phone call, understand the effects of moving, and have a basic understanding of U.S. laws and cultural practices, as required by the Cooperative Agreement, Section 16 b. 1) b) iv., vii., viii., c) d) i., ii., iv. \J Response: IRC San Diego is addressing achieving R&P performance outcomes through ensuring that thorough, consistent messaging on access to healthcare, interpreter services, and immigration benefits UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2016-04483 Doc No. C06334617 Date: 06/15/2017 UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2016-04483 Doc No. C06334617 Date: 06/15/2017 is delivered during Cultural Orientation (CO) whether delivered in a classroom setting or one-on-one. In support of this goal, IRC resettlement staff reviewed scoring and client follow-up procedures for the CO assessment in July 2016. During July 2016 resettlement team meetings (especially July 13, 20); the IRC Resettlement Supervisor reviewed with caseworkers techniques to use during home visits to ensure that families understand how to access healthcare, how to file paperwork to bring family members over, how to ask for interpreter services, understand household finances, know their address, know how to make a phone call, understand the effects of moving, know their address, and have a basic understanding of U.S. laws and cultural practices. Further, IRC San Diego's resettlement staff training plan for FY17 will includeln-depth training on healthcare access and immigration services for all resettlement caseworkers so that they have timely, accurate information to share with clients during the resettlement period. 4. The affiliate should ensure that each case file includes a clearly legible case note log which shows the date, mode, and substance of regular affiliate/refugee contact throughout the R&P period and which includes a detailed record of basic needs support and core service delivery, as required by the Cooperative Agreement, Section 16.g.2) a). Response: IRC San Diego resettlement staff reviewed the requirements of the Cooperative Agreement, Section 8.C.5.c.1 immediately following PRM's visit, with the support of IRC HQ RP staff, have reviewed IRCs standard case file quality assurance operating procedures to ensure that case notes are legible and show the date, mode and substance of client contact throughout the R&P period, utilizing PRM guidance and IRCs own internal procedures to achieve this outcome. IRC San Diego uses automated quality assurance reports that generate a comprehensive list of files for review at the 30 and 60-75 day time period to support case manager self-review, quality assurance, and supervisor review of case notes. fr UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2016-04483 Doc No. C06334617 Date: 06/15/2017