Sean Dobbin

The meeting covered the review of Act 29 and the committee's charge, which involves studying and submitting a report on the Office of New Americans (ONA), including proposing a definition for "New Americans" and an organizational structure. A significant portion of the discussion, led by guests from World Education Service, focused on the ONA's role in policy, considerations for its placement within state systems, the value of an advisory committee, and potential alignment with the State Refugee Office. The committee also received updates from sub-committees regarding progress on Labor/Employment, Licensure/Post Secondary Education, Legal, Housing, Demographics/Public Health, and English Language Instruction/Language Access. The group discussed strategies for gathering community input on issues impacting New Vermonters.

The committee reviewed Act 29 and the Office of New American's (ONA) Study Committee's charge. Key tasks include reviewing available data, summarizing possible approaches for an Office of New Americans, assessing existing services and current gaps in services, proposing a definition of the term "New Americans" for the purposes of an Office of New Americans, and proposing an organizational structure for a Vermont ONA. The sub-committee provided review and updates on progress/data brainstorm: Labor/employment, Licensure, Legal, Housing, Demographics. The Maine ONA Legislative report was presented, focusing on capacity building. Committee discussed the Maine presentation: ELL capacity, Systems for adult ELL. An in-person listening session and committee meeting in Brattleboro was scheduled. Emerging issues/public comment included federal policy changes impacting non-citizens.

The meeting of the Office of New Americans Study Committee included a review of Act 29 and the committee's charge, focusing on tasks such as reviewing data, summarizing approaches for an Office of New Americans, assessing services and gaps, proposing a definition for "New Americans," and suggesting an organizational structure for a Vermont ONA. Sub-committees were established for Labor/Employment, Licensure/Post Secondary Education, Legal, Housing, Demographic Data, Language Access, and Policy. The committee also discussed refugee employment and experiences, with presentations by Pablo Bose (UVM) and Jacob Chamberlain (USCRI), highlighting challenges like transportation, education-employment mismatch, and access to cultural resources. The committee addressed upcoming immigrant research, listening sessions, in-person meetings, and emerging issues such as changes in access to benefits.

The meeting included an overview of the Office of New Americans (ONA), a review of Act 29 and the ONA Study Committee's charge, and a discussion of milestones to be achieved, including a draft timeline. The committee discussed the importance of identifying existing data resources and data-related definitions, as well as additional topics for the ONA to address. There were also suggestions for monthly meetings, the frequency of in-person versus remote meetings, and potential meeting spaces. Public comment included a suggestion for a standing agenda item for 'emerging issues' and the importance of including the perspective of recently arrived refugees in the planning process.

The meeting included discussions on the agenda, victim services, public access to hearings, housing updates for parolees, and a review of hearing procedures. The board reviewed and updated parole conditions, addressed a reconsideration request for Dylan Sweet, and examined data from SDMF cases. The schedule for February hearings was also reviewed.