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FIRN provides information and referral services to our foreign-born neighbors in the following areas.
Human and social services - This includes referrals to area human and social service providers; registering children for Head Start, school and other educational programs; accessing insurance and legal aid; and providing assistance with taxes, obtaining/protecting credit, completion of application forms, etc
Health: This includes referrals to free or low-cost clinics, hospital programs and government health and mental health services; assistance with major medical bills; referrals for free vision and hearing screenings, glasses, prescription drug programs, dental care, nutrition counseling, and sexual assault and domestic violence centers; crisis counseling; preventive health counseling; and health materials in other languages.
Orientation: This includes an introduction to Howard County and providing a copy of the FIRN Help Book of vital information on county resources.
FIRN provides intake interviews on Monday and Tuesday mornings. General questions are answered throughout the week. Please call 410-992-1923 for details.
Immigration Counseling Services
Immigrants in the United States have a continuing and pressing need for reasonably priced, quality immigration services. FIRN is an experienced, BIA (Board of Immigration Appeals)-accredited provider of immigration counseling services at modest fees for those with limited resources.
Services include:
- Petitions for relatives and family reunification
- Asylum applications
- Work authorization applications
- Permanent residency applications
- Citizenship applications and test preparation
- Answers to immigration inquiries and referrals
- Assistance with visa processing for relatives abroad
- Assistance with travel documents
- Affidavits of support
- Immigration counseling
- Experienced legal guidance is provided on site at FIRN headquarters
- Guidance on immigration laws and regulations
- Our legal counsel has developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions for your assistance. To review, please click here Frequently Asked Questions.
FIRN conducts intake interviews on Monday and Tuesday mornings. You can telephone 410-992-1923 for details.
Clients must bring the following documents:
- All Immigration Papers
- Marriage License and Birth Certificates of all those for whom petitioning
Interpreting Services and Language Connections
The FIRN interpreting and translation service, known as Language Connections, is the only nonprofit interpretation and translation service in central Maryland. Language Connections bridges the language gap by providing professional, culturally-sensitive interpreting and translation services for public agencies, businesses, and other organizations that work with the foreign-born
Language Connections provides the needed translations of text and documents, particularly in the fields of health and human services. These include forms, transcripts, marriage records, and birth certificates. FIRN also links more than 100 Language Connections interpreters fluent in over 50 languages with the people, businesses, agencies and organizations that need them. Most of these professionals specialize in health and human services, making this benefit of particular value to health agencies, hospitals, private medical practices and social service organizations. In addition to making accurate translations, they help client organizations learn about the requirements and cultures of their foreign-born clients and employees.
Through skilled interpreters, speakers of limited English can connect with:
- Health Services
- Social Services
- Legal Assistance
- Employers
- Government agencies
- Refugee resettlement agencies
- Others
Organizations that use Language Connections
- Overcome language and cultural barriers
- Build trust among foreign-born clients
- Strengthen their reputations as sensitive and caring organizations.
- Bring more foreign-born clients to their doors
- Attract a more diverse staff
- Protect their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
FIRN is licensed to train interpreters with the Bridging the Gap (BTG) program developed by the Seattle-based Cross Cultural Health Care Program ,the premier medical interpreting program in the nation that encompasses 40 rigorous hours of training over five days and is tailored to the needs and schedules of participants - staff interpreters, nurses, clerical staff or other bilingual employees.
FIRN’s Language Connections fee schedule is as follows:
- Translations – FIRN charges $60/page for each translation of documents/text. The fee for particularly difficult languages and/or documents may be higher.
- Interpreting Services – The charge for interpreters is $60/hour plus $0.485/mile. Billing starts at the scheduled appointment time. A minimum of two hours is charged for all appointments, with 30-minute increments thereafter. Users of this service sign a time sheet/statement for each interpreter visit, which clearly sets forth the number of hours worked and miles traveled for that particular assignment.
To arrange for a Language Connections interpreter or translation, please call 410-992-1923 x30, or send an email to languageconnections@firnonline.org
Employment Counseling
FIRN’s “New Jobs, New Lives” award winning employment program is conducted in partnership with Pinnacle Career Resources, Inc. www.pinnaclecareerresources.com The program provides a unique combination of comprehensive services:
- Career and Life Transition Coaching
- Career Preparation Training
- Employment Referral
- Employer Outreach and Partnerships
- Referral to Community Services and Advanced Training Resources
FIRN conducts intake on Monday and Tuesday mornings. You can telephone 410-992-1923 for details.
Literacy Programs
FIRN,through the valued service of dedicated volunteers, strives to help both students and adults learn English though its "family" of LEAP literacy programs.
Club LEAP (Learning English After School Program) - In a fun and upbeat atmosphere, trained volunteer tutors conduct English enrichment activities with small groups of ESOL students in various Howard County public schools. In partnership with the Howard County Public School System, Club LEAP sessions take place directly after school twice a week for 1-1½ hours, October-May.
Adult LEAP (Learning English for Adults Program) - FIRN and community-based partners such as Bridgeway Community Church provide volunteer tutors to help adults learn English. Students may be assigned either a 1:1 tutor or be asked to participate in an English Conversation Group. Our tutors may also help the student study for citizenship or GED examinations, as well as use of English in the workplace. The student and tutor meet once a week and may choose between a Saturday afternoon and a Tuesday evening session.
Volunteers are always welcomed for FIRN's Club LEAP and Adult LEAP programs, and training is provided. If your organization is interested in becoming a community partner for Adult LEAP,please mail adultliteracy@firnonline.org.
American Success Awards
Each Spring, FIRN's annual American Success Awards dinner celebrates the achievements of the foreign-born. Presented by FIRN in partnership with the Howard County Government, Howard County Economic Development Authority and the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, the American Success Award honors foreign-born individuals who live or work in Howard County, who have made a significant contribution to the ethnic or general community through volunteer services in Howard County, and who are either owners of successful Howard County businesses or have achieved a high level of success in their chosen profession. It takes note of their contributions toward making Howard County a better, more culturally diverse place for everyone.
Recent ASA winner bios: 2007, 2006
Corporate sponsors of this event are key to the success of this event. To be a corporate sponsor, please call FIRN's Executive Director at 410-992-1923 x 11.