Resettlement re-cap: a periodic report from the Cuban Refugee Center, June 1968

              SPONSOR CUBAN REFUGEES
Fulfill Their Faith in  Freedom
JUNE   1968
RESETTLEMENT RE-CAP
FOR   ADMINISTRATIVE   USE
A PERIODIC REPORT FROM CUBAN REFUGEE CENTER — FREEDOM TOWER, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33101
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
SOCIAL AND REHABILITATION SERVICE
U.S. CUBAN REFUGEE PROGRAM JOHN FREDERICK THOMAS, Director, Washington, D. C.
ERROL T. BALLANFONTE, Director of Center HARRY B.  LYFORD,  Editor
DIRECTOR THOMAS CITES PROGRAM SUCCESS AS GUIDE 'FOR OUR OWN NEEDY PEOPLE1
"What we have done in the Cuban Refugee Program to rehabilitate the Cuban refugee has been based on one
simple idea: Meet the need of the individual by planning for him and training him," Program Director John F.
Thomas told the National Conference on Social Work, meeting in San Francisco in late May.  The refugees, he
reported, "have enjoyed remarkable success in carving out new lives".  And he credited "this achievement" to
these factors:  (1) Federal, state and private agency cooperation toward a common goal, and  (2) The individual refugee's determination and will to survive.  "I can say," he added, "that the majority of Cuban refugees
are now contributing members of our society."
Mr. Thomas reviewed training opportunities provided for the learning of English and vocational skills, the
refresher courses for physicians and other professionals, remedial treatment for persons with physicial or
mental handicaps, the cooperation of colleges in special courses for refugees seeking teacher certificates,
adjustment opportunities for the elderly, and the Cuban Student Loan Program helping young refugees to higher
education.
Referring to the four Voluntary Resettlement Agencies coordinated by the government at the Cuban Refugee
Center, Miami, the Director noted that "without their cooperation we would not have enjoyed the success we
continue to have in training and placing refugees in self-support positions.  These agencies are able to reach
out to every community; every church, temple, civic or professional organization can be a potential sponsor
for refugees. We have assisted thousands by this procedure and every precaution is used to help maintain
individual dignity and self-respect. We need these qualities in the refugee if he, and the Program, are to
succeed.  Surely if we can achieve such self-improvement results for refugees from another land we can do no
less for our own needy people."
REHABILITATED WITH TWO NEW FEET, REFUGEE APPLIES FOR JOB; RESETTLES
Erlindes Acosta, aged 27, is a determined Cuban refugee who said "O.K." when a Cuban
Refugee Program doctor last year recommended amputation of both deformed feet.  He took
the initiative again the other day when, on two artificial feet, he walked into the office of a recruiter of factory workers and said he wanted to resettle to a job in Culpeper, Va.  Observing nothing unusual about the young man, the recruiter for the Old Dominion Manufacturing Company listed Acosta as O.K. and the refugee went happily to the Cuban
Refugee Center to give the good news.  Thinking of himself as fully rehabilitated, he had,
however, not mentioned his new feet to the recruiter.  Center officials persuaded him that
this must be done for a full understanding on the part of the employer.  Astonished to
learn about the artificial feet, the recruiter invited Acosta to take a walk.  Convinced
the man could work without betraying a handicap, the recruiter recommended that his company employ Acosta, who is starting as a painter's helper, with normal pay for such a job,
plus living quarters.  And into resettlement with him have gone two young cousins, also
glad for jobs at the Virginia plant.
ERLINDES ACOSTA
Succeeds Against
Odds
"It's one of those problem cases where everything went just right -- the bright spark
of 'can do' from the refugee himself, and good team work by everybody else," said Albert
K. Trout, Jr., director of the International Rescue Committee office at the Center. Acosta was determined to earn his own way despite the deformed feet, which had bothered him in
his fishing and farm work in Cuba.  The Cuban Refugee Program, I.R.C., the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and other groups and individuals have been happy to help such an ambitious fellow.  Then, before we had an
an appropriate job lined up for him, he took control, and, with great confidence, walked in to see the recruiter who signed him up. We are all mighty proud of him and of this proof that the Program's emphasis on
rehabilitation of refugees is successful."
During his recuperation Acosta trained in the English language and vocational classes.  He is single.  His
parents are in Cuba.  He reached the U.S. last year.
TWO FLIGHTS A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK, KEEP CUBAN REFUGEE PROGRAM FACILITIES BUSY; YOUR
COMMUNITY fS CONTINUING INTEREST AND ACTION CAN HELP NEWCOMERS START LIVES IN FREEDOM
!H0W TO TAKE HELPFUL ACTION1 IS A FEATURE OF EVERY 'RE-CAP1 ISSUE; RE-READ IT ON PAGE 2