Process Evaluation of Justice for Our Neighbors Program

Established in 1999, Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) is a program of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Its mission is a faith-driven ministry welcoming immigrants into churches and communities by providing free, high-quality immigration legal services, education, and advocacy. It does so through a unique model where participating congregations operate legal clinics run entirely by volunteers who also engage in education and advocacy efforts locally. What distinguishes JFON from other legal service programs is its aim to bridge cultures and increase understanding of the plight of immigrants by directly connecting local community members and newcomers. Despite its rapid growth into a nationwide network of 20 sites in 8 states, the program struggles with uneven operational performance across clinics and an uncertain growth strategy. The objective of this process evaluation was to provide a preliminary assessment based on site visits in 8 states and to propose a framework to improve the organizational performance of the JFON program and develop a vision forward.