About Us
Our History
In 2018, the International Institute of St. Louis (IISTL) became the Replacement Designee for the state of Missouri.
As the replacement designee, IISTL took on the responsibility of the resettlement program and created the Missouri Office of Refugee Administration (MO-ORA) to administer Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) programs for the state.
Over the past five years, our team has grown to meet the needs of local resettlement agencies as they welcome new arrivals. We not only administer federal funding but also create new programs and develop innovative resources as we work to strengthen refugee resettlement efforts across the Show Me state.
Who We Are
MO-ORA is an independent office of IISTL with staff located in St. Louis, New Bloomfield, and Kansas City.
Our mission is to promote the well-being and inclusion of refugees by resourcing and coordinating resettlement programs across the state. This not only ensures our newest neighbors are receiving quality services, but also furthers our vision of a Missouri that values and champions refugees.
We distribute federal funding to organizations who provide programs that aid populations eligible for ORR benefits. These programs include Refugee Support Services, Refugee Cash & Medical Assistance, Youth Mentoring, Services to Older Refugees, Refugee School Impact, Refugee Temporary Assistance Connection and the EMPOWER Program. Our team monitors these programs and offers support and resources for resettlement staff working under these initiatives.
We work with seven local resettlement agencies in Missouri, as well as other immigrant service providers and Missouri school districts.
Why Our Work Matters
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, estimated 110 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide by the end of October 2023. Of those displaced individuals, 36.4 million are refugees.
Conflicts and humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latin America and Caribbean countries, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Ukraine have significantly contributed to the large number of displacements.
We have seen record numbers of new arrivals during Operation Allies Welcome and the launch of the Uniting for Ukraine program and will continue to rise to the occasion when the time comes. It is our responsibility to meet the needs of newly arrived refugees to ensure they are adequately resettled and meaningfully integrated into their new communities.