What is the difference between the CAO and the African Community Center, also in Denver?
The African Community Center (ACC) is government-designated refugee resettlement agency, also known as a volag that handles the majority of case management for the first eight months after a refugee arrives. After eight months in the country, the government slows down its funding of services and ACC must divert its attention to newer arrivals. Between eight months and five years, CAO steps in and fills in service gaps that the volags can no longer adequately provide. We offer more supplementary, complementary, long-term support. In addition, despite its name, ACC serves refugees from all over the world; CAO only serves Africans.
