During the steel mill era in the not-so-distant past, immigrants from all over the world came to Pittsburgh to earn a decent living and to put down their roots. Immigrants still come to Pittsburgh today for the same reasons but now they are looking for jobs in high tech, light manufacturing, hospitality and healthcare fields.
Jewish Family & Children’s Service plays a significant role in helping immigrants successfully settle in our region, thus diversifying our workforce and at the same time helping to reverse the population losses of the past several decades. In fact, over the past ten years, JF&CS has helped over 10,000 refugees and immigrants successfully resettle in Greater Pittsburgh communities.
Jewish Family & Children’s Service is ensuring that immigrants have a positive, productive start in Pittsburgh by providing legal employment and support services to immigrants and refugees. JF&CS is the only local U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) recognized agency providing immigration related legal services to newcomers to our country and region.
Through our Career Development Center we offer employment services that can help immigrants identify their skills, find specialized training sources and ultimately find work that fits their experience level and interests. We also offer a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) to help individuals for whom English is a second language file and pay their taxes.
Recently, JF&CS accredited immigration representative Jamie Englert was part of an immigration panel for the WQED show “Horizons.” Hosted by seasoned local television personality Chris Moore, the “Horizons” episode focused on healthcare, transportation, education and other issues that immigrants arriving in Pittsburgh are faced with.
Panelists also discussed the many positive, tangible contributions that immigrants are making to the Pittsburgh economy and community. They are opening businesses and paying taxes, joining churches and other places of worship and in general are adding to the cultural mixing pot that is Western Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh welcomes those who are visiting or relocating to our great city. For more information on JF&CS services for immigrants, please visit our website or call 412.422.7200.