Notice of availability of funding for alternative projects, known as Wilson/Fish Projects, to implement alternative means of providing interim financial assistance, medical assistance, social services, and case management to refugees and Cuban and Haitian entrants. Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), ACF, DHHS.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) announces that competing applications will be accepted from public and private non-profit organizations under a standing announcement for Wilson/Fish projects which propose alternative approaches to serving refugees. The purpose of an alternative project is to provide integrated services and cash assistance to refugees in order to increase refugees' prospects for early employment and self-sufficiency, reduce their level of welfare dependence, enhance acculturation, and promote coordination among voluntary resettlement agencies and service providers. Projects will be accepted under either of two categories: (1) Projects to establish or maintain a refugee program in a State where the State is not participating in the refugee program or is dropping out of the refugee program or a portion of the program; and (2) projects to provide an alternative to the existing system of assistance and services to refugees. Funding is available to these projects under the "Wilson/Fish" authority.