What We Do

The multilingual EMBARC Language Helplines and Access Center aim to connect refugees and immigrants in central Iowa to resources and information in their native language.

Access Center

Many non-English speaking communities struggle to access resources and accomplish daily tasks such as reading mail or making phone calls. The EMBARC Access Center provides wrap-around direct services to new and existing clients each week on a first-come, first-serve basis. Designed to provide assistance to the refugee and immigrant community, the Access Center helps clients navigate resources essential to their daily lives.

The Access Center provides interpreters in several Burma ethnic languages including Burmese, Rakhine, Karen, Karenni and Chin languages.

EMBARC’s Access Center provides wrap-around services including but not limited to:

• Reading and interpreting mail

• Applying for assistance

• Signing up for insurance

• Job applications

• School registration

• Making phone calls

• Referring clients to expert services for legal assistance

Language Helplines

The EMBARC Language Helplines are operated in several Burma ethnic languages to provide resource navigation to clients over the phone. Community members who call the helpline will be connected with a frontline call manager who speaks their native language and will refer them to case management teams specializing in a variety of concerns.

The EMBARC Language Helplines provide wrap-around services including but not limited to:

• Applying for assistance

• Signing up for insurance

• Registering children for school

• Signing up for Parent/Early Childhood education classes

• Access support services for survivors of crime or violence

• Receiving general employment services

Access Center Details

Open hours: Wednesdays, 12-4:30 p.m.

4801 Franklin Avenue, Room 108, Des Moines, IA 50310

To be eligible for services, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Arrived in the U.S. within the last five years

• Have a child under the age of five

• Are a survivor of crime or violence

• Attend monthly Community Learning Circle or education classes

For more program information, please contact info@embarciowa.org

To learn about volunteer opportunities, click here.

Language Helpline Details

Calls will be answered Monday-Friday between 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Calls outside of this window will go to voicemail and will be returned within 24 business hours during the standard work week.

• Burmese + Karenni: (515) 421-0487

• Chin languages: (515) 421-0354

• Karen: (515) 473-0977

• Other languages: (515) 421-0489