1. Volunteer Orientation Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services (RAIS)

2. What does the term refugee mean?

3. A refugee is a person who:
“ owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his or her nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”
United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR)

4. Immigrants, Asylees and Internally Displaced Persons
Immigrants are individuals who voluntarily move in search of opportunity.
Asylees flee their home country for the same reasons as refugees but resettle on their own and apply for refugee benefits when they reach asylum.
Internally Displaced Persons
are people who have been forced to flee their home for the same reasons as a refugee, but remains in his or her own country and has not crossed an international border.
Asylees are the same as refugees. The only difference is how they get here.

5. United States: Refugee Statistics
19.5 million refugees worldwide
U.S. Dept. of State sets annual limit. This year we will receive 85,000 refugees
The United States is the largest resettlement country in the world, each year receiving more than half of all refugees resettled worldwide
Less than 1% of refugees
are resettled
million refugees at any given time.
Only 1% of the 19.5 million refugees are resettled
Obama just announced that in the year 2017 the United States will accept a total of 110,000 refugees- increasing our acceptance by 60%

6. How do Refugees get to Anchorage, AK?
United Nations High Commission for Refugees
(UNHCR)
US Department of State
US Dept. of Homeland Security
National Voluntary Agency: United States Council of Catholic Bishops
Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services (RAIS)
—STEP 1
Refugee Status: In most cases the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) determines that the individual qualifies as a refugee under international law. A refugee is someone who has fled from his or her home country and cannot return because he or she has a well-founded fear of persecution based on religion, race, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.
—STEP 2
Referral to the United States: A refugee that meets one of the criteria for resettlement in the United States is referred to the U.S. government by UNHCR, a U.S. Embassy, or a trained Non-Governmental Organization.
—STEP 3
Resettlement Support Center: A Resettlement Support Center (RSC), contracted by the U.S. Department of State, compiles the refugee’s personal data and background information for the security clearance process and to present to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for an in-person interview.
—STEP 4
Security Clearance Process: With information collected by the RSC, a number of security checks are conducted. The State Department runs the names of all refugees referred to the United States for resettlement through a standard CLASS (Consular Lookout and Support System) name check. In addition, enhanced interagency security checks were phased in beginning in 2008 and applied to all refugee applicants by 2010.
—STEP 5
Security Clearance Process: Certain refugees undergo an additional security review called a Security Advisory Opinion (SAO). These cases require a positive SAO clearance from a number of U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies in order to continue the resettlement process. When required, this step runs concurrently with Step 4.
—STEP 6
Security Clearance Process: Refugees who meet the minimum age requirement have their fingerprints and photograph taken by a trained U.S. government employee, usually on the same day as their DHS interview. The fingerprints are then checked against various U.S. government databases and information on any matches is reviewed by DHS.
—STEP 7
In-person Interview: All refugee applicants are interviewed by an officer from DHS’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A trained officer will travel to the country of asylum* to conduct a detailed, face-to- face interview with each refugee applicant being considered for resettlement. Based on the information in the refugee’s case file and on the interview, the DHS officer will determine if the individual qualifies as a refugee and is admissible under U.S. law.
—STEP 8
DHS Approval: If the USCIS officer finds that the individual qualifies as a refugee and meets other U.S. admission criteria, the officer will conditionally approve the refugee’s application for resettlement and submit it to the U.S. Department of State for final processing. Conditional approvals become final once the results of all security checks (Steps 4, 5, and 6) have been received and cleared.
—STEP 9
Medical Screening: All refugee applicants approved for resettlement in the U.S. are required to undergo medical screening conducted by the International Organization for Migration or a physician designated by the U.S. Embassy.
—STEP 10
Matching Refugees with a Sponsor Agency: Every refugee is assigned to a Voluntary Agency in the U.S., such as the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI). USCRI will place refugees with a local partner agency or office that will assist refugees upon their arrival in the U.S.
—STEP 11
Cultural Orientation: In addition, refugees approved for resettlement are offered cultural orientation while waiting for final processing, to prepare them for their journey to and initial resettlement in the United States.
—STEP 12
Security Clearance Process: Prior to departure to the U.S., a second interagency check is conducted for most refugees to check for any new information. Refugees must clear this check in order to depart to the U.S.
—STEP 13
Admission to the United States: Upon arrival at one of five U.S. airports designated as ports of entry for refugee admissions, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will review the refugee documentation and conduct additional security checks to ensure that the arriving refugee is the same person who was screened and approved for admission to the United States.
More Helful Links:

7. Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services (RAIS)
RAIS is one of 8 programs of Catholic Social Services.
RAIS is the only refugee resettlement program in Alaska.
Approximately 125
refugees resettle
to Alaska each
year.
RAIS is funded with Federal funds as well as donations and contributions from individuals and groups.
QUESTION: Who sets the cap for the refugees coming to RAIS

8. Alaska’s Refugees Uzbekistan Ukraine Iraq Bhutan Burma The DRC Sudan
Somalia
Ethiopia
Eritrea

9. RAIS works with clients for their first 5 years in the United States
Program Overview
RAIS works with clients for their first 5 years in the United States
Our program is divided in 4 main services:
Reception and Placement
Case Management
Education & Employment
Immigration

10. Reception and Placement
Reception and Placement supports clients during their first 3 months of resettlement in Anchorage
Airport pick-up
Finding an apartment
Furnishing the apartment
Scheduling medical appointments
Applying for US documentations (AK IDs, Social Security, Employment Authorization Documents)
Enrolling children in school
Teaching Alaska 101

11. Case Management
Case Managers work intensively with the client for their few years of resettlement
Apply for public benefits (public assistance, housing, SSI)
Referrals for other services
Home visits
Self-sufficiency planning

12. Education and Employment
Clients start attending classes within the first 2 weeks of arrival
Welcome Center Classes:
Orientation to Life Skills
English Classes
Job Readiness
Employment

13. (E&E) Orientation to Life Skills
This class gives clients an overview of life in the United States. The class focuses on building self-sufficiency skills through the following topics:
Bus Training
English Skills
Financial Literacy
Maintaining Health
Home Safety
Living in Alaska
US Laws and Values
Winter Preparedness

14. (E&E) Language Skills
Because English is new to many clients, RAIS offers different resources to aid in learning how to speak and understand English during their time of resettlement.
Nine Star Education
Beginner to Advanced ESL classes
English Tutoring
Resource provided by RAIS volunteers and welcome center workers

15. (E&E) Job Readiness Job Readiness Classes: Building a Resume
Searching for Jobs
Applying for Jobs
Practicing Computer Skills
Interviewing Practice
Discussing Job Safety

16. (E&E) Employment
Within the first 6 months of arriving to Anchorage % of our clients are employed!

17. Volunteer Opportunities

18. RAIS Volunteer Opportunities
Meals Teams
Moving Teams
Welcome Teams
English Tutors
Family Mentors
Professional Mentors
Donation Drives

19. Assigned specific months of the year.
Meals Teams
Meals Teams are made up of organizations around Alaska who supply food for incoming refugees for the first two weeks of their resettlement process.
Assigned specific months of the year.

20. Moving Teams
RAIS has heavy furniture that needs to be moved to apartments before clients arrive to Anchorage. If you have a moving van or truck and strong muscles RAIS could use your help!
Teams work great!
Flexible scheduling

21. Welcome Teams
Welcome a refugee family to Anchorage by collecting household items from RAIS’ donation room, transporting them to the new apartment and setting everything up before the family arrives to Anchorage!
Teams of 2-3 people although not limited
Weekdays 9am- 5pm

22. English Tutors
Help a client learn English by meeting once a week and practicing basic English!
Basic-advanced weekly English practice
Meetings take place in the client’s home until comfortable to leave home
English Tutors meet once a month to discuss challenges, successes and new ideas

23. Family Mentors
Support a newly arrived refugee family by spending time helping them become accustomed to the American lifestyle in Anchorage, Alaska.
Meet once a week for 3-6 months inside and outside of the home exploring and learning about life here in the United States
Family Mentors meet once a month to discuss challenges, successes and new ideas

24. Professional Mentors
Become a Professional Mentor and help a client with their personal career pathway planning by meeting once a week to encourage, plan and execute.
Practice computer skills
LinkedIn
Writing resumes and cover letters
Apply for jobs
Practice interviewing
Apply for university
University prep

25. Donation Drives Kitchen Sets Healthy Start Kits Bucket Basics
Plate, bowl, cup, mug, utensils
Healthy Start Kits
Pillow case, towel, wash cloth, shampoo, hair conditioner, bar of soap, tooth brush, toothpaste, dental floss, razor, deodorant
Bucket Basics
Kitchen trash can, sponges, paper towels, bathroom/kitchen cleaner, laundry detergent, broom, trash bags, dish soap
Gardening Kit
Shovel, gardening gloves, planting seeds
Always coordinate with volunteer coordinator

26. Other Volunteer Opportunities
Let us know any ideas you have 
1. Teach clients how to drive
2. Drive clients to appointments
3. Clean the Welcome Center
4. Watch children at the WC
5. Manage the RAIS front desk
6. Teach computer classes at WC
7. Organize the donation room
8. Help clients apply for jobs at the WC

27. Important Things to Consider
Time commitment as a RAIS volunteer
Fragile population
Consider client’s backgrounds
Don’t forget to listen
Always be respectful
Language doesn’t reflect
intelligence
Clients are their own person

28. Religious Sensitivity
Religious freedom is a right we all have in this country.
If the client does not share your beliefs, you must not try to convert them to your religious beliefs.
Keep in mind that their religion may be one reason they were persecuted in their home country.
In order for the clients to be successful in the United States they must feel safe to practice their specific faith.
Trying to convert a refugee to your faith is strictly prohibited by federal rules.

29. Next Steps 1. Complete Catholic Social Services Volunteer Application
3. Chose the program you want to work with, and coordinate a time to start volunteering with Clara! 
2. RAIS Volunteer Orientation

30. Clara Williams– Refugee Volunteer Coordinator
Contact Information
Clara Williams– Refugee Volunteer Coordinator
Phone:
Location: Catholic Social Services-Refugee Assistance and Immigrant Services
3710 E. 20th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99508

31. Resources for You! Cultural Backgrounders English Help RAIS Dropbox
Give background information about client’s background, culture and history they have come from.
English Help
username:
password: Cssalaska1
RAIS Dropbox
RAIS Resource Library
A Library available to volunteers to aid them in helping the clients the best they can.
Cultural Informational Books
Movies
Cook books
Volunteer Manual

32. RAIS Dropbox Best Practices Health & Medications Safety in the Home
Folders & Files & Web Links to help You
Download files & follow links
Best Practices
Health & Medications
Safety in the Home
Activity Ideas
“Time” Concept & Teaching
Language Tools
Translations
Cultural Awareness
Country-specific Tools & Documents
Religious Information
Drop Box Link:

33. Thank you for caring about refugees here in Anchorage, Alaska!