SCOPE OF VOLUNTEER WORK:

The family mentor will provide support to refugee families recently resettled into Salt Lake City. They will act as both a mentor and guide to refugees navigating a new community, support English language acquisition, and help the family accomplish focused goals on their path toward self-sufficiency.  Other activities that family mentors could do include: providing a neighborhood orientation, helping learn new public transit routes, building a resume and applying for jobs, connecting to useful, low-cost community resources, reading mail, and introducing the family to free or low-cost community spaces, like libraries, museums, and parks.  Family mentors meet with their family once a week for two hours for at least three months. 

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Able to commit at least two hours a week for three months; schedule is otherwise flexible
  • Communicate hours and activities on a monthly basis to the IRC in Utah
  • Keep confidentiality agreements
  • Reliable and flexible
  • Willing to learn about IRC history, philosophy, global work, and local efforts
  • Willing to learn about cross-cultural communication and ethnic backgrounds of clients
  • Willing to adhere to IRC volunteer and workplace policies, including confidentiality policies and respect for family experiences
  • Willingness to learn about the family and interact on a regular basis
  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English; additional fluency in a refugee language preferred
  • Submit service hours monthly to Volunteer Coordinator

TRAINING:

All interested parties will attend a two-part training covering the following:

  • Process of resettlement
  • Role of the mentor
  • IRC expectations & Cultural competency
  • Community Navigation
  • Focus areas for Support

At the training, we will gather more information about your previous volunteer experience, current employment or profession, amount of time you are available to volunteer each week, which areas you feel most comfortable in assisting clients, language skills, and where you live to pair you with a client that is the best fit for your situation. 

NEXT STEPS:

  1. Attend an info session to learn more about the IRC, the refugees we serve and the volunteer opportunities we host. You can sign up for a volunteer orientation here »
  2. Attend a Family Mentor training, dates to be decided.
  3. All volunteers must clear a background check, for which we ask for a $45 donation to offset the cost. Steps for this will be provided closer to your training date.
  4. Complete all paperwork & participate in a pairing meeting with your assigned family. 

Questions? Email us at VolunteerSLC@rescue.org.