The federal government's Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken an urgent step to gather vital information from Afghan arrivals, launching an emergency review process for a new questionnaire. This critical initiative, titled the Refugee Outreach and Well-Being Initiative (ROWI) Questionnaire, seeks to identify immediate and ongoing service needs among a vulnerable population, with a public comment period closing on November 2, 2026. The move underscores the administration's recognition of potential widespread challenges facing recent Afghan immigrants as they strive for assimilation and self-sufficiency in the United States.
Background to the Initiative
The influx of Afghan arrivals following recent geopolitical events presented a unique and substantial resettlement challenge for the United States. Many of these individuals and families arrived with urgent needs, requiring immediate assistance with housing, employment, and cultural integration. The Office of Refugee Resettlement is the primary federal agency responsible for coordinating the resettlement of refugees and providing resources to help them become self-sufficient. This new questionnaire directly addresses the ongoing necessity to understand the evolving landscape of their needs. The Refugee Act of 1980 grants ORR the authority to conduct such surveys, emphasizing the federal commitment to refugee welfare.
The ROWI Questionnaire: Purpose and Scope
At the heart of this emergency request is a semi-structured telephone questionnaire designed for Afghan arrivals who have previously received ORR benefits and services. The primary goal is to pinpoint any additional support needs that could facilitate their successful assimilation, economic independence, and eventual citizenship. Specifically, ORR intends to use the collected data to identify common obstacles such as housing insecurity, employment difficulties, and access gaps to critical support systems. It will also help assess whether current resources are sufficient or if additional interventions are necessary to bolster integration efforts.
Furthermore, the insights gained will be instrumental in guiding technical assistance provided to resettlement agencies on the ground and improving interagency coordination across various federal and state bodies. The findings will also directly inform Department of Health and Human Services and White House leadership on prevalent trends and challenges, enabling them to make data-driven policy decisions impacting this population's long-term success.
Emergency Approval and Public Oversight
The urgency of this data collection is highlighted by ORR's request for "emergency processing" from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). This fast-track approval, which allows for immediate use of the questionnaire for 180 days, is justified by the agency's concern that without rapid intervention, vulnerable Afghan families could suffer "significant harm." This harm includes the risk of income loss, unstable housing, food insecurity, or even the loss of immigration status. While emergency approval grants immediate implementation, ORR will still seek review under normal PRA procedures within the 180-day window, allowing for public input. Public comments are specifically invited on the necessity and practical utility of the information, the accuracy of burden estimates, the quality and clarity of data, and methods to minimize the burden on respondents.
Data Collection and Privacy Considerations
Interviews will be conducted over the phone, are voluntary, and are expected to take approximately 30 minutes. ORR anticipates surveying 1,800 individuals annually, resulting in an estimated total annual burden of 900 hours. A crucial aspect of this data collection involves personally identifiable information (PII). ORR states that PII will be gathered solely to confirm interviewed cases, verify client identities, and confirm current locations to ensure access to appropriate services. When legally permissible, this information may be shared with other government entities or service providers, including ORR grantees, to facilitate referrals or inform the development of new services. The agency has also indicated the possibility of using this survey framework for other populations in the future, subject to further OMB review.
Implications for Policy and Practice
This emergency data collection effort signals a proactive approach by ORR to address potential systemic issues within refugee resettlement programs for Afghan arrivals. By directly engaging with the population affected, the agency aims to move beyond anecdotal evidence and build a robust dataset to inform policy. The findings could lead to significant adjustments in resource allocation, program design, and interagency collaboration. It highlights the federal government's ongoing struggle to manage the complexities of large-scale refugee resettlement effectively and humanely, emphasizing the need for flexible and responsive mechanisms to identify and address emerging needs among new arrivals. The commitment to a public comment period, even amidst an emergency approval, reflects an attempt to balance rapid response with accountability and stakeholder engagement.
