Sep 25, 2005 - 06:01:32 CDT
FARGO (AP) - The state's refugee resettlement program has had a revolving door of managers, and has lost directors here and in Grand Forks in the past month. Officials now believe they have found some stability.Sinisa Milovanovic, himself a refugee from former Yugoslavia, recently took over as director of the Fargo office for Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota's resettlement program. He replaces Mike Weston, who left after a couple of months on the job.
Last year, the program helped 223 people resettle in North Dakota, mostly in Fargo. The agency is supposed to provide refugees with basic needs and clothing and help them find housing and jobs.
"For many years, LSS had consistent leadership in our refugee program. The past few years, we've not," said Janell Regimbal, who is wrapping up a 19-month term as interim president and CEO of LSS. "We're confident that Sinisa is a good fit, both for the agency and the program."
Weston changed his mind and left the job because of family obligations, Regimbal said. Other changes came as LSS explored the possibility of combining its programs in North Dakota and South Dakota, she said. Eventually, the agency decided not to combine them.
"It was certainly disappointing" to lose Weston, Regimbal said, "but we're thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Sinisa back."
Milovanovic, 40, said morale is strong among his staff of about 20 employees, even though the changes have brought more stress.
"I think, no matter who the director is, there is a certain amount of stress just by the nature of the job," Milovanovic said. "But it's very important for any organization to have consistent staff, including management."
One constant in the program was ViAnn Olson, who spent 13 years in the Grand Forks office, the last five as full-time director. Now she, too, has left.
"I just felt like it was time to make a change," said Olson, who took over a mission for homeless residents.
Asked about the difficulties of the refugee job, she said, "It had its moments, just because you are working with people. But overall it's very rewarding to see refugees become citizens and buy houses and become part of the community."
Milovanovic's experience as a refugee should help the program, Olson said.
"He took those first steps to start over," she said. "He knows what it's like and understands what people go through to get there."
Kathy Hogan, executive director of Cass County social services, works regularly with the LSS program. She believes Milovanovic can help curb the agency's high turnover rate.
"I think the stability would be good for the community and particularly good for the staff that work there," Hogan said. "Their jobs have changed so many times over the last three or four years, because of leadership changes and because of program changes from the federal level."
Milovanovic fled from Croatia to Germany in the early 1990s before coming to Fargo in 1999. He's joining LSS for the second time, having previously worked as director of the agency's senior companion program.
He left LSS to become executive director of First Link, a nonprofit group that provides a suicide hot line and other services.
Milovanovic prefers to tout his work experience rather than his background.
"I think it's helpful to understand the process, to be in the shoes of refugees," Milovanovic said. "But I look at that as secondary compared to my passion to work for a nonprofit organization."
Milovanovic received a marketing and economics degree at the University of Osijek in Croatia in 1989. He worked for two years at the university as a research assistant and was working on his master's degree when the war started there.
He tries to have no illusions about the challenges ahead for LSS.
"It's not always a pleasant job," he said. "You don't sell anything, so you can't project revenue. You rely on grants and contracts and contributions."
Some say refugees are not getting all the basic services they need, and that they get donated goods of poor quality. Milovanovic said he's willing to work with critics to make improvements.
"I'm not afraid to answer any questions people have about the program," he said. "I try to treat people as I would like to be treated."
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