Refugee Cooperative Services (RCS) provides initial resettlement services for refugees who have fled their country for fear of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, political opinion or social group.

Some refugees join family members in the United States after years of separation and others come to the country knowing no one. RCS is committed to helping refugee families acclimate to life in the United States and become self-sufficient through employment.

RSC helps refuges by providing these services:

• Locating an apartment
• Providing complete furnishings and household goods
• Enrolling children in school
• Finding employment for adults
• Assisting with emergency situations
• Obtaining a Social Security card, food stamps and physicals
• Providing case management during the first four months after arrival
• Helping families with literacy classes
• Linking them with community members who assist with community resources and lifestyle adaptations

Refugee Cooperative Services resettled more than 1,800 refugees in the past four years. Refugees came from Bosnia, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Somalia, Vietnam and other countries.

Des Moines contact:
Jill Stuecker at 515-271-7418 or
jill.stuecker@lsiowa.org

Waterloo contact:
Peladija Woodson at 319-283-2978 or
peladija.woodson@lsiowa.org