Hello and welcome!
This resource guide contains information about:
- Assistance for Refugees and Asylees
- City and County Services
- English Learning for Adults
- Family and Children
- Finding a Job
- Health
- Housing and Food Assistance
- Legal and Immigration Services
- Tax Preparation
- Translators and Interpreters
Most of these services are available close to or in Arapahoe County. If you are looking for more information, please Ask a Librarian, and we will meet with you in person to answer your questions. You can also call the library at 303-542-7279.
Assistance for Refugees and Asylees
These organizations can assist with basic navigation for newly arrived refugees, asylees and immigrants staying in the United States under temporary protected status (TPS) or special entry programs (U4U, P4V or SIV). These organizations can help with understanding local laws and services and connect you with the following resources:
- medical services,
- public school system,
- federal, state and local assistance programs (Social Security, food stamps, Medicaid, and other programs),
- public transportation,
- cultural and job training.
- Call: 303-399-4500
- 925 S. Niagara St. Suite 200
Denver, CO 80224
International Rescue Committee
- Call: 720-328-6655
- 1873 S. Bellaire St. 5th Floor
Denver, CO80222
- Call: 303-980-5400
- 1035 Osage Street, Suite 700
Denver, CO 80204
- Call: 303-597-5000
- 3201 South Tamarac Dr.
Denver, CO 80231
Looking for more organizations that help immigrants and refugees integrate, learn and connect? Check out the Colorado Refugee Connect Directory for more information.
City and County Services
211 / Mile High United Way, opens a new window
- Call: 211 or 1-866-760-6489 for English or Spanish or text your zip code to 898-211
- Referrals to community services:
- food banks,
- housing options,
- healthcare, SNAP benefits and other social supports,
- childcare referrals,
- English and adult education classes,
- Referrals to immigration supports and
- Calls are free and confidential
- Call: 311 or 720-913-1311 for English or Spanish
- Answers to your questions about city services in Denver
- Motor vehicle registration, missed trash collection, animal control, and more
- Call: 303-739-7000
- Answers to your questions about city services in Aurora
- Animal control, repair requests, non-emergency city questions, and more
- Call: 303-762-2200
- Answers to your questions about city services in Sheridan
- Animal control, repair requests, non-emergency city questions, and more
City of Centennial Citizen Response Center
- Call: 303-325-8000
- Submit your concerns about city services in Centennial
- Animal control, repair requests, non-emergency city questions, and more
- Call: 303-759-1513
- Request city services or report a concern, a crime or a street repair need
Arapahoe County Community Resources
- Call: 303-738-8040
- Submit your concerns about city services in Centennial
- Animal control, repair requests, non-emergency city questions, and more
City of Aurora - International and Immigrant Affairs
- Call: 303-739-7521
- The City of Aurora works to integrate immigrants into civic life and policy. They are here to listen to your desires and concerns.
- They also plan cultural activities and celebrations throughout the year.
Colorado Refugee Services Program
- Call: 303-863-8214
- The Colorado state office in charge of refugee resettlement and assistance
- They can tell you what resources are available to help with learning English, medical assistance, housing, and other issues
English Learning for Adults
Arapahoe Libraries offer formal English classes and informal English conversation circles through partnership with The Learning Source, a local adult education provider. Learn more about English learning at the library here.
Find more local adult education organizations here.
Family and Children's Services
Colorado Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)
- free home visitation program that helps parents of 2-5 year old children prepare their child for school
- Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning provides HIPPY services in Arapahoe and Denver counties. Call: 303-863-0188
Denver’s Great Kids Head Start
- Call: 720-913-0900
- Services for children ages 3-5 from low-income families
- Includes early childhood education, development, nutrition, medical services, etc.
- Spanish-speaking staff is available. Referral required
- Call: (303) 595-4377
- helps Denver families locate and pay for preschool
Developmental Pathways Early Intervention Program
- Call: 303-858-2229 (BABY)
- Evaluate child's development and request early intervention services for children with developmental delays:
- speech
- occupational
- physical
- developmental
- Offered for free to children up to 3 years old living in Arapahoe and Douglas counties and in the city of Aurora
Early Childhood Education Navigation for immigrant and refugee families
- Call: 303-324-4781 or email: ddelacruzmayo@springinstitute.org
- Receive assistance with applications for CCCAP and DPP (childcare and preschool assistance) in many languages, including Spanish, Farsi, Pashto, Burmese, Karen, Amharic, Kinyarwanda and more
- provides 6 free mental health counseling sessions for youth
- fill out the form on their page to connect to one of 150+ licensed therapists
- Spanish assistance available
- for emergency mental health assistance call: 844-493-8255 (TALK) or text TALK to 38255
School districts in Arapahoe county
All public schools are mandated by law to ask for language spoken at home and evaluate English skills of each student whose native language is not English. Public school districts in Arapahoe county have special departments to support immigrant and refugee families. Parents can ask for an interpreter when meeting with teachers and school administration.
Use your address to find your school district and neighborhood boundary, opens a new window.
- Aurora Public Schools
- Byers School District
- Cherry Creek Schools
- Deer Trail 26J School District
- Denver Public Schools
- Douglas County School District
- Englewood Schools
- Littleton Public Schools
- Sheridan School District
- Full list of Colorado public schools with contact information and addresses
Youth Leadership Academy at APDC
- after-school enrichment and academic support program for immigrant children in Aurora
- 1537 Alton Street
Aurora, CO 80010
Finding a Job
The library also offers free computer classes to all members of our community. Please check our schedule for the current availability. If you need classes in Spanish, you can Ask a Librarian.
9 to 5 National Association of Working Women
- Tel. 303-628-0925
- Information on workers’ rights and dealing with conflicts at work
- Special emphasis on supporting female workers
- Training on sexual harassment and discrimination
Arapahoe / Douglas Workforce Center (AD Works)
- job-seeking services and computer classes.
- certain programs require documentation of citizenship or refugee status.
- 303-636-1160 or adworksinfo@arapahoegov.com
Center for Work Education & Employment (CWEE)
- Call: 303-892-8444
- employment preparation
- vocational training
- 1175 Osage St., Suite 300
Denver, CO 80204
- Tel. 303-295-9470
- Small business help and tax preparation
- GED preparation and English language classes
- Legal nights every first Wednesday of the month, from 5:30-7:00 pm
El Centro Humanitario Para los Trabajadores
- Tel. 303-292-4115
- Promotes the rights and well-being of day laborers in Colorado through education, job skills, leadership development, united action and advocacy.
- Tel. 303-573-1302
- Business development, entrepreneurial training, and free patent help
Small Business Development Center - Aurora and South Denver
- Tel. 303-620-8076
- Free business consulting and low-cost training
- Help with developing a plan for your business, manufacturing, lending, exports and imports, market research help, and other questions
Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning
- Tel. 303-863-0188
- Colorado Welcome Back program: helping foreign-trained medical professionals start a medical career in Colorado
- The Interpreter Network: training and recruiting interpreters for local work
- Tel. 720-944-3393
- Provides free training in food service, including classes
- Help with job-search, resumes, and interviews
- Tel. 303-592-5760
- The Global Trade Activator program teaches immigrants about international business and empowers them to bring an international product to Colorado or take a local product globally
- Participants pay a small annual fee to join the program
Health Services
Do you have health insurance? Most Colorado medical services will require health insurance. Depending on income, employment, immigration status and more, Colorado residents might qualify for one of the following:
- Colorado PEAK: This website provides information on various governmental programs for low income Coloradans. Health insurance options might include Medicaid, CHP+ or other options. To qualify, you need to apply online or in person at a clinic or organization which provides PEAK application assistance.
- Connect for Health Colorado: This website provides information on health insurance options available through marketplace for self-employed and small business owners.
- OmniSalud: This is an affordable medical insurance option for undocumented Coloradans.
- Learn here about additional health insurance options. This video from DORA Colorado explains basic terminology of health insurance.
The following organizations provide affordable health services:
- Tel. 303-315-6200
- 5001 S Parker Rd, Aurora, CO 80015
- Affordable healthcare services in English or Spanish (request additional languages via phone interpretation)
- Cost is on the sliding scale based on access to health insurance and income
- Primary and mental health services
- 303-602-4545
- 1001 Yosemite Street Denver, CO 80230
- Initial health screening and services for refugees
- Work with Medicaid recipients and patients who will likely receive Medicaid based on refugee status
- English or Spanish (request additional languages via phone interpretation)
- 303-730-1313
- 609 W. Littleton Blvd Suite 100
Littleton, Colorado 80120 - Cost is on the sliding scale based on access to health insurance and income
- 303-296-1767
- 3800 York St, Denver, CO 80205
- Accepting patients without health insurance
- English or Spanish (request additional languages via phone interpretation)
- Primary health services
Jewish Family Services - Mental Health
- Call: 720-722-4496
- Refugee and immigrant mental health programs in the community and at JFS office, including mental telehealth
- Most services provided on the sliding scale based on the income
- Russian language mental health services
STRIDE Community Health Centers
- Tel. 303-360-6276, many locations
- Provides affordable medical care, mental health services, and dental care
- Services are for people who do not have insurance or are low-income
- Schedule a Financial Screening appointment to learn about your medical insurance or discount options
Tepeyac Community Health Center
- Tel. 303-458-5302
- Basic medical services for individuals and families without insurance or other access to healthcare services
- Includes: physical exams, immunizations, cancer screenings, and diabetes management
- Can help with filing for insurance via PEAK
- Must make appointment to be seen. Staff speaks Spanish and English
Housing and Food Assistance
- Tel. 1-877-428-8844
- Search online for local housing (to rent or own) in English and Spanish.
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority
- Tel. 1-800-877-2432
- Provides information on buying or renting a home
- Information about fair housing laws
- List of HUD-approved lenders
- Services available in English and Spanish
- Tel. 720-932-3000
- Manages affordable housing, vouchers, and Section 8 program for low-income individuals
Food Bank of the Rockies Pantry Locator
- Use the search form online or call 855-855-4626 to locate a food pantry in your area
- Some locations require advance sign-up or proof of eligibility
Mobile Pantry at Kelver Library
- Arapahoe Libraries are proud to support our neighbors by welcoming a mobile pantry at our Kelver location.
- Tel. 303-830-3300
- Provides affordable housing for low- to moderate-income families
- Housing also provided for older people and those with special needs
Women-Infants-Children Clinics (WIC)
- Use the search tool to find a clinic in your area
- Get food vouchers and nutritional counseling
- For pregnant women and children up to 5 years old
Legal and Immigration Support Services
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
- Tel. 202-507-7600
- Look for an immigration lawyer
- Online information about immigration
- Tel. 303-742-4971
- You do not have to be Catholic. They help everyone. Services are not free, and they will ask for a small payment (about $35).
- Legal advice about immigration and legal representation for immigration applications
- Senior Services
The Center for Trauma and Resilience
- Tel. 303-718-8289 (Español), 303-894-8000 (English)
- Free immigration services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking
- Immediate help for victims of crimes as well as trauma counseling, case management and support groups
- Specific programs for children, families and the elderly
- Tel. 303-837-1313
- Legal services for low-income individuals on civil matters, including domestic violence, housing issues, healthcare and public benefits
- Spanish-speaking staff are available
Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Clinic (JAMLAC)
- Tel. 303-839-1008
- Free bilingual legal representation for immigration, family law, bankruptcy, and other general civil matter cases
- Free legal nights and consultations. Please call the number above to schedule your visit
Littleton Immigrant Resource Center
- Call: 303-795-3968
- 6014 S. Datura St.
Littleton, CO 80120 - Provides help with filing citizenship application and many other immigration forms
- Cost is based on income
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Action Network (RMIAN)
- Call 303-433-2812
- Free legal representation for immigrants in detention and immigrant children who have suffered from violence, abuse or neglect
- Legal support for detained individuals
Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center
- Tel. 303-295-2001
- Free legal services for victims of violent crime (Victims must be current residents of Colorado or victims of crimes that occurred in the state)
- Tel. 720-597-8001
- Non-profit/non-governmental organization helping all immigrants
- Will help you find many kinds of help in Colorado
Tax Preparation
AARP Tax Aid, opens a new window
- Tel. 1-888-687-2277 (English), 1-877-342-2277 (Español)
- Free tax preparation service for low-to moderate-income taxpayers - especially those 60 and older
Denver Asset Building Coalition
- Tel. 303-388-7030
- Tax preparation assistance and tax education classes
- Spanish staff available during tax season (February 1-April 15), and during the rest of the year with advance notice
Free Tax Help Search from the IRS
- Use your ZIP code to find free tax help services in your area
- The results will include the address, schedule and languages spoken at each organization
Translators and Interpreters
Colorado Association of Professional Interpreters
- Professional association for interpreters in Colorado.
- Provides online directory of interpreters in the state.
Community Language Cooperative
- Tel. 720-394-0126
- Translation and interpretation services for a wide variety of languages
- Call for fees and scheduling
- Tel. 303-863-0188
- Interpretation and translation services by trained and certified professionals
- Over 80 languages are represented. Call for fees and scheduling
The Translation and Interpretation Center
- Tel. 303-996-0976
- Paid services, with discounts for immigrants and refugees
- Transcription and translation services, interpretive services
- Certified document translations
