Getting Started Checklist

Thank you for volunteering to work with a newly arrived refugee family. We think this will be an incredibly rewarding experience both for you and the family. We have created this checklist to help you know how to get started with your family. Please let us know if you have any questions.

• Please spend the first-month building relationships with your assigned family/client(s) and address any urgent needs

• Then ask about needs and goals if they haven't come up yet

• Complete initial surveys during the first month (for you as volunteers and with them as clients - they’ll likely need your help getting translations - we suggest Tarjimly if you don’t have an interpreter you/they know)

• Avoid crises & know how to handle crises by filling out the Get Started Checklist with your family/client (see below list)

• Review the Volunteer Resources Hub provided by RAA so that you know where to get ideas, find our optional curriculum, structure for what to tackle/suggest with your family, lists of suggested outings and activities, and more information if you want it. Print out anything useful!

• Review any of the training materials.

Get Started Checklist

Sit down and assemble all this information with your assigned family/client so you can track it. Be patient as this will likely take time.

☐Write down their phone numbers & Complete Important Phone Numbers List

☐How their names are spelled on their document(s)

☐Their email addresses (if they have them, if not, consider creating them and walking them through how to use email), and social media contact info in case you want to friend them

☐Their internet company, speed, price per month (there might be a better deal)

☐Find out if they know how to use the computer you raised money for an RAA gave to them already

☐Ask what other programs they're doing with RAA (kids tutoring, ESL classes - if they're not in ours, they should be in some other class, as language is the key to success here- our TASTE chef program, etc.)

☐Green card application status

☐Health insurance

☐Renewal dates

☐Account info

☐Cost, etc (different for adults and kids, as kids have free options always)

☐Food benefits (SNAP) renewal date and info (different for adults and kids)

☐Cash benefits & renewal date (TANF)

☐School information

☐School names, teachers for each kid

☐Signature of parent on release form for each kid

☐Free breakfast and lunch forms (status for each kid and how to renew)

☐Adult employment info: where, when do they work

☐Resettlement agency contact name and info (almost all are CWS, and Reuben Rojas)

☐Home/Apartment

☐Lease expiration date

☐Have they applied for subsidized housing and who is managing that process?