New Life Project
The New Life Project, implemented by the International Center of Kentucky and made possible by support from the Kentucky Bar Foundation, is dedicated to helping foreign-born Kentuckians get a new lease on life and thrive in their new Kentucky home. This work begins starting from the first week refugees arrive in Kentucky.
Some of the activities under this project include:
Education programs that aim to reduce family violence and other violations of the law. These programs will also increase confidence in the U.S. legal system.
Education on their rights and responsibilities under Kentucky and federal law regarding domestic violence, child abuse, and neglect, sexual assault and harassment, simple assault, drug possession, public intoxication, driving under the influence, bullying, immigration, landlord/tenant, and workplace/housing discrimination.
The New Life Project will also provide free legal representation in the form of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for low-income immigrants who qualify for protections under the Violence Against Women Act or Immigration and Nationality Act after being a victim of domestic violence, religious persecution, or ethnic cleansing.
The refugee women who are legally determined to be particularly vulnerable to domestic abuse will also be referred to specialized self-sufficiency and job readiness trainings in areas such as financial literacy, computer skills, tailoring, entrepreneurship, and housekeeping/hospitality to reduce likelihood that they will return to an abusive situation.
Link to the Kentucky Bar Foundation website for further information is: