PARA, Grand Rapids, Michigan

PARA is the Michigan resettlement affiliate of the Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program (CWS-IRP), one of ten voluntary agencies that contract with the US State Department to resettle refugees in the United States. PARA provides refugee families a variety of resettlement services, such as community and cultural orientation, language training, social, educational, health and financial information - and more. PARAÂ’s goal is to see refugee families acculturated to the point that they find not only a safe refuge, but also a real "home" in West Michigan. PARA became a resettlement affiliate of Church World Service approved to do reception and placement as of October 1, 1998.

Mission Statement: PARA works to link newly arrived refugees with church cosponsors, individual volunteers, service providers and other community resources to help them in their adjustment to their new home in West Michigan.