Minnesota. Department of Public Welfare. Refugee Program Office.

The Governor’s Indochinese Resettlement Office was established in December 1975 by Governor Wendell Anderson to administer the Minnesota Indochinese Refugee Assistance Program. A governing body, the Governor’s Indochinese Refugee Task Force, was also formed at that time.

On October 1, 1977, the assistance program was transferred to the Public Welfare Department, where it was also known as the Indochinese Refugee Resettlement Office. By 1981, it had become the Refugee Program Office. Two governing bodies, the Indochinese Advisory Council and the Minnesota State Refugee Advisory Council oversaw its activities.

The purpose of the office was to coordinate the efforts of the public and private sectors’ delivery of services to refugees. It was further responsible for arranging and/or funding comprehensive educational, employment and social services for Indochinese refugees in Minnesota, and assisting service needs, developing funding for services, and implementing federal regulatory and reporting systems.