This report provides an evaluation of the HIAS U.S. Welcome Circle program for Ukrainians, an emergency response initiative that mobilized groups around the U.S. to provide community sponsorship for Ukrainians displaced as a result of the February 2022 Russian invasion. In this model, Welcome Circle volunteer sponsors assisted newcomers for a minimum period of six months with the goal of helping newcomers achieve self-sufficiency.
The report’s goal is to understand program results, highlight opportunities for improved program delivery, and explore how lessons from Welcome Circles might inform other community sponsorship programs. Findings are drawn from a multi-methods analysis of HIAS program documents, third-party sources, and primary data from surveys and interviews with Welcome Circle Lead volunteers and Ukrainian beneficiaries.
