Newcomer Network

The Newcomer Network is dedicated to helping newcomers to our country become more stable, empowered and connected to their communities. It works with newcomers to identify goals and make many services available to them in a convenient referral system.

Created with a generous investment from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, the headquarters for the Newcomer Network is located at the Catholic Charities Center in Silver Spring, Md. In bringing services to where people live and work, its focus is on Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, where 40 percent of immigrants to the area live.

Learn more in this video

Entry into the Newcomer Network is through Catholic Charities’ Immigration Legal Services program. Changing the legal status of an immigrant can have long-lasting positive effects — better jobs, increased access to public benefits, security and the ability to participate in the community without fear.

To schedule a virtual immigration legal consultation, call the Newcomer Intake Call Center at 240-858-0958 on
Mondays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., or on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Or, use our online scheduling tool to set up a virtual consultation.

The Newcomer Network can assist those with or without a legal path to permanent residence.

An array of services

Intake specialists ensure clients accessing legal support know about other Catholic Charities’ and partner services. A “navigator” or case manager, who is supervised by a licensed social worker, is assigned to participants to connect them with services beyond legal, including:

Employment
Housing
Education, including English as a Second Language classes
Medical care
Mental health care

Catholic Charities has partnerships with parishes and other social services providers to assist newcomers with services that it does not offer.

Volunteers Ensure Our Success

Volunteers are an essential part of the Newcomer Network. Legal services by pro bono immigration attorneys are necessary to successfully serve newcomers. To get involved as a volunteer, visit our volunteer page.