Thank you for your patience as we update our website....more coming soon!
how brfn started
BRFN was founded in 2008 by refugees and immigrants from Burma to provide a critical bridge between the newly arrived refugees from Burma and local resources, organizations, and social services. The original BRFN board was comprised of ethnically diverse refugee community members from Burma with backgrounds in refugee case management, medical interpretation, child psychology, nonprofit management, advocacy, and community understanding and knowledge. BRFN started out with parking lot case management help stations and door-to-door assistance. In 2010, BRFN was incorporated and obtained 501(c)3 tax exempt non-profit status. Shortly after in 2011, BRFN received its first round of funding from Alameda County Social Services Agency (ACSSA) under the Targeted Assistance Project where we contracted to provide social adjustment services to refugee clients receiving employment services. The project was so successful that ACSSA expanded social adjustment services through other grants such as Refugee Social Adjustment Services (now called Social Integration Services) where we partner with Refugee & Immigrant Transtisions. We also provide social adjustment services to newcomers enrolled in Vocational ESL and Employment Services through Lao Family Community Development, the IRC and La Familia. And we recently were awarded a contract with the California Department of Social Services to provide services through the Afghan Community Support program. As the demographics of newcomers has shifted in Alameda County, BRFN has pivoted to support newcomers from other countries such as Guatemala, Eritrea, Ethiopia and now Afghanistan. Our current board is now comprised of community leaders from Afghanistan, Burma and Eritrea.
BRFN received recognition in 2016 by being awarded the Community Impact Award from Asian and Pacific Islander Legal Outreach with commendation by California Legislature Assembly in recognition of our support for San Francisco's most vulnerable and our commitment to justice. In April of 2017, BRFN was also awarded the Ernest M. Pon Memorial Award from the National Association for Ethnic Studies for our dedication to improving human rights and equal justice through our contribution to the field of Ethnic Studies. BRFN is proud of the work we do for our communities, and of our staff who are devoted to do whatever it takes to help our clients become empowered citizens of their new home in the United States.
BRFN received recognition in 2016 by being awarded the Community Impact Award from Asian and Pacific Islander Legal Outreach with commendation by California Legislature Assembly in recognition of our support for San Francisco's most vulnerable and our commitment to justice. In April of 2017, BRFN was also awarded the Ernest M. Pon Memorial Award from the National Association for Ethnic Studies for our dedication to improving human rights and equal justice through our contribution to the field of Ethnic Studies. BRFN is proud of the work we do for our communities, and of our staff who are devoted to do whatever it takes to help our clients become empowered citizens of their new home in the United States.
