Before the Refugee Act of 1980, refugee resettlement in the U.S. was largely conducted privately or through community groups. The act standardized the process and today most refugees in the U.S. are primarily welcomed through resettlement agencies, such as the 探花精选.

There have always been American communities eager to welcome newcomers. However, beginning with the Syrian refugee crisis in 2015 and continuing today as people flee Afghanistan and Ukraine, more local community groups have been offering their help. The 探花精选 and other resettlement agencies have responded to this enthusiasm by integrating community sponsorship at the local and national levels.

Community Sponsor group in Salt Lake City gathers for a photo at the Salt Lake City Airport

It鈥檚 incredible to see how much of a difference the TIME and CONCERN of community members makes in the resettlement journey of a refugee family. We know that caseworkers are amazing and would do all these 鈥渆xtra鈥 things if they had bandwidth, but when you have 20 cases in your portfolio, there is no way to do anything beyond delivering core services. It has been a joy to see what can happen when folks get to know a family and focus on how to make their integration more comfortable, welcoming, and hopeful.

Kristi Haycock
Community Sponsorship Manager in SLC

What is community sponsorship?

Community Sponsorship is an umbrella term that describes different models of resettlement in which clients are paired with community groups who provide the following:

  1. In-Kind Contributions
  2. Financial Contributions
  3. Service delivery to support the welcome and integration of refugees in your community.

These groups can be formed from a range of formal and informal community groups such as local clubs, groups of friends or neighbors, and individuals interested in community sponsorship who are placed in a group by an affiliate.

What is family mentorship?

Family mentors offer friendly, supportive guidance to a refugee or their family as they adjust to life in the U.S.. As a mentor, you help refugees navigate everyday challenges鈥攍ike using public transportation, understanding school systems, or finding community resources鈥攚hile building a trusting relationship. You provide a positive presence, answer questions and offer encouragement as they work toward independence and feel more at home in their new environment.

Often, family mentors are part of a support team鈥攁 group of dedicated individuals working together to provide holistic support to a refugee family. This team shares responsibilities, offers emotional and practical assistance and ensures that no one person is carrying the load alone. Together, the support team helps the family feel welcomed, empowered and connected as they rebuild their lives.

Spokane CS Group standing outside.

Working with the university has been such a rewarding experience, not only for the clients, but also for our 探花精选 Spokane staff! We鈥檝e built great communication between us and their team, and our relationship with them has brought about additional opportunities and collaborations, including a developing partnership with the WSU School of Nursing, and joining with WSU and ECAR [Every Campus a Refuge] to encourage and demonstrate to other colleges and universities around the state how to make their campus a refuge.

Kimberly Curry
Community Sponsorship Coordinator in Spokane

Learn more

To learn more about co-sponsorship and other avenues of community sponsorship, we invite you to attend one of our online Community Sponsorship Information Sessions. You may also contact us at sponsorship@rescue.org for specific questions about community sponsorship at the 探花精选.