The Hmong Resettlement Study Site Report: Portland, Oregon.
Author(s):
Sweeney, Michael; And Others; Northwest Regional Educational Lab., Portland, Or.
Format:
Report
Publisher:
1984.
Language:
English
Abstract:
This document reports on the resettlement of Hmong Refugees in Portland, Oregon: what their employment experiences have been, which resettlement efforts have been successful, and how current resettlement efforts could be altered to improve the Hmong's long-term adjustment. The report is part of a larger, national project on Hmong resettlement. Section I gives general information about Portland, its population, economy, employment market, welfare, housing, refugee services, and the mixed community reaction to Hmong refugees. Section II gives brief information on the size and history of the Hmong population in Portland, which was approximately 1,068 in 1983. Section III discusses employment and education issues. Section IV discusses the unique significance of Portland as a site in that it experienced an emigration of Hmong which reduced the refugee population by three-fourths. The section also summarizes the site findings, which include: (1) secondary migration from Oregon to California has significantly affected the Portland Hmong community; (2) the Hmong desire economic self-sufficiency and feel that public assistance should be tied to employment; (3) despite a poor economy, many families have at least one employed member; (4) the Hmong feel they have not benefited from employment services and mostly have found jobs through community networks; (5) there are few vocational or job training opportunities and they feel that ESL should be closely tied to job training; and (6) high school students have difficulty graduating and are not receiving adequate vocational training. (CG)