Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2010 / Catholic Services of Macomb takes on refugee services office
Catholic Services of Macomb takes on refugee services office
Published March 26, 2010
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The work of the archdiocesan Office of Refugee Resettlement will continue, but under the auspices of Catholic Services of Macomb, which assumed responsibility for its management and operations as of March 15.
The office will remain at its location in Detroit for now, and be operated under the direction of Jeralda Hattar, said Thomas Reed, CSM's president and chief executive officer.
It was previously managed by the archdiocesan Department of Parish Life and Services. The transfer is part of the archdiocesan restructuring plan implemented by Archbishop Allen Vigneron last fall.
"Over a span of 40 years the Archdiocese of Detroit Office of Refugee Resettlement has welcomed home tens of thousands of refugees from the world's conflicts, beginning with those fleeing the chaos of the Vietnam War right up to the present, with refugees from the Iraq War arriving in the Detroit metro area to join their families," Reed said.
"Catholic Services of Macomb looks forward to continuing that tradition of compassion, advocacy, and support," he added.
As program manager, Hattar will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the office. In addition, Thu Ho, Nazar Shamoun, and Sr. Beth Murphy, OP, will provide the direct service and outreach components for the program.
"In conjunction with the staff, CSM will provide support services to the program to ensure the quality and growth of Refugee Resettlement Services," Reed said.
Hattar worked as a resettlement caseworker for the archdiocese from 1992-95 and returned in October 2008. She succeeds John Binatta, who had directed the office since July 2008. A 17-year employee of the archdiocese, Binatta had previously served both as refugee resettlement caseworker and as an accredited representative in the archdiocesan sister agency, Community Immigration Legal Services. The legal services office ceased operation last fall when the archdiocesan restructuring plan went into effect.
"(John) has put in place a solid foundation on which we will continue to build," Hattar said of her predecessor.
Until office space can be secured in Macomb County the resettlement staff will continue operations from its current location, 5575 Conner Ave., Suite 104, Detroit 48213. The office phone, (586) 416-1113, and fax, (586) 412-8084, numbers remain the same.
CSM expects to resettle 300 refugees by Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. Anyone wishing to volunteer or donate to the program may contact the office.
The CSM Office of Refugee Resettlement is an affiliate of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Migration and Refugee Services, one of 10 voluntary agencies contracted with the U.S. Department of State to serve refugees. Last year USCCB/MRS affiliates resettled 29 percent of all refugees arriving in the U.S., the largest percentage of any single agency.
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