Blog
We're serving those
in need regardless of
faith, culture, or situation.
Conflict in Ukraine: Information and Resources
Our agency is acutely aware of the situation evolving in Ukraine, and the ripple effect that a crisis of this magnitude has on people in the region, and in our own communities. We have a long history of serving refugees and immigrants and will continue to look for ways to help support those near and far in the coming weeks.
For those in the U.S. with families in Ukraine:
Adjustments to the Lautenberg Program provide a pathway for members of historically persecuted religious groups from Ukraine and other countries in the Former Soviet Union to be reunited with family members in the United States. Catholic Charities Refugee Services staff are now in the process of connecting with Ukrainian families living mid-Missouri who desire to file a digital Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) petition to help Ukrainian refugees rejoin their families in the U.S. Below, you will find a “Lautenberg Program Inquiry Form” to assist families in filing those petitions.
For those hoping to help:
Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri is directing material support for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Caritas Ukraine. Both of these organizations are charitable arms of the Catholic Church and have been affirmed by the USCCB and our diocese as safe organizations to donate to, with direct services to provide relief to those impacted by the crisis in Ukraine.
National Updates:
Ukrainian refugees are granted Temporary Protected Status: On March 3, 2022, the US Department of Homeland Security announced the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Ukrainians that have continuously resided in the US since March 1, 2022, are eligible for this designation. This National Law Review Article breaks down the information. Individuals must apply for TPS, utilizing the I-821. Individuals granted TPS are not eligible for public benefits, such as SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, or ORR-eligible programs, but they do qualify for Marketplace coverage.
The U.S. has committed to $54 million in food and other assistance to people still in Ukraine, which you can learn more about in this AP article: What is the US doing to help Ukraine refugees?
Resources to Learn More:
Ukrainians traveling to or present in other countries can visit the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)’s Ukraine page for information about asylum procedures and where to go for help.