Access to childcare is a common barrier that can prevent clients—especially newcomer women—from participating in programs that support their self-sufficiency. To help address this, ReEstablish Richmond provides childcare during in-person programming, with services available for children ages 6 months–5 years on school days and up to age 10 when school is out. Childcare volunteers play a vital role in creating a welcoming, safe space for children while their parents attend classes like English, sewing, or wellness sessions. These 2–3 hour sessions take place on weekday mornings or afternoons and are always supported by at least one other adult. Volunteers are expected to be patient, attentive, communicate scheduling changes, and report hours monthly. Your support allows parents to fully participate, knowing their children are close by and well cared for.

Guidelines for Childcare Volunteers

Trauma Informed Care for Refugee Youth

Basic Principles

As a driver volunteer, you’ll use your own vehicle to pick up and drop off clients attending classes, helping them access vital educational opportunities. Please read the following guidelines and tips carefully before volunteering as a driver.  

General Information:

• Please keep all client information confidential. Drivers will receive an email that provides assignment dates, times, location, and a list of clients by name, address, phone number, primary language, and number/age of children. Please do not share this information with anyone. 

• If things do not go as planned, your primary point of contact is the staff member/supervisor who gave you the driving assignment.  

• Only the assigned persons and their assigned children should be transported to ReEstablish Richmond programming. We do not have liability releases signed by people who are not registered clients in this specific service. 

• If the client insists that people not on the list get in your vehicle, please know that as the driver you can say, “I am sorry, I am not allowed to drive people who are not on the list. This is ReEstablish Richmond’s policy. If you want to participate in a class with ReEstablish Richmond in the future (or attend this program), you can fill out the referral form on our website.” (Note: This does NOT mean that the client will be immediately added to the current class.)

• If the client does not have the appropriate car seat for their child’s age/size, you must also say, “Parents are responsible to provide the appropriate car seat for their children. I am not allowed to transport children in the van unless they have the appropriate car seat. This is ReEstablish Richmond’s policy. If you have a neighbor or someone that you can borrow from, you can try that. I can wait 3-4 minutes.” 

• Last-minute changes are common. Confirm your route the morning of each assignment. Stay in touch with the ReEstablish Richmond staff person responsible for coordinating transportation logistics. 

• Plan your time generously, allowing your schedule to accommodate longer-than-expected pick-up times. For example: you show up and no one is ready, they aren’t going now, someone is sick, etc. People live complicated lives and are dealing with communication barriers, so these things sometimes happen. If a client asks you to make an additional stop that is not on your route, please tell them that you are not allowed to make additional stops.

• Clients and/or children who are ill may not be transported to ReEstablish Richmond programming. If there is any question or ambiguity at the time of pickup, the volunteer driver should contact the ReEstablish Richmond staff member overseeing the class immediately by phone.  

• Car seats are not commonly used in our clients’ countries of origin, but they are important safety measures that are legally required here. As a reminder, the driver is legally responsible for the safety of all children riding in the car. Drivers must be familiar with the age/size ranges associated with each type of car seat, as well as how to properly secure the car seat in the van and the child in the car seat. (See Passenger Safety, below.) 

• Parents are responsible to provide age- or developmentally appropriate car seats for their children. 

• Children under 8 are not allowed to ride in the van without being properly secured in the age- or developmentally appropriate car seat. 

• Male drivers should be aware that some women may not feel comfortable interacting with you initially. To build trust, in addition to following all driver expectations, male drivers should avoid physical touch, sustained eye contact, and comments about appearance with women passengers. 

General Expectations and Safety:

ReEstablish Richmond upholds the following Safe Driving Practices of the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA): https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Safe_Driving_Practices.pdf ReEstablish Richmond also expects that all volunteer drivers will: 

• Avoid use of alcohol, drugs, or any substance that could impair abilities before or while driving. 

• Obey all traffic laws, including laws regarding Commercial Motor Vehicles. 

• It is the law that the driver and all other front seat passengers must wear a seat belt at all times. The seat belt should be snug or tight to the body, fitting over the shoulder and across the chest. Anyone under 18 must wear a seat belt in the back seat, too. 

• Never leave children unattended in or around a vehicle. 

• Always check in the back of the vehicle before locking the doors and walking away. 

• Keep vehicles locked when not in use to prevent a child being trapped inside. 

• Never leave a vehicle running. Turn off the engine and take the keys with you when leaving the van at any location. 

• After dropping passengers at their destination, check the vehicle for items that may have been forgotten or left behind. 

• If you have an emergency and must stop, park the vehicle in a safe place completely off the roadway. 

• Communicate with ReEstablish Richmond staff immediately if you are involved in an accident or experience an emergency. 

• Set an Example: If you’re asked to drive someone to a class, appointment, or event, they are likely working toward getting their driver’s license. Although many newcomers have extensive driving experience in their countries of origin, some clients have limited experience with riding in a car, and traffic rules vary from country to country. Your example as a driver should uphold a high standard of driving in the U.S. — ensuring passenger and child safety, maintaining good driving manners, minimizing distractions, and obeying all traffic laws and speed limits.

Details for Child Safety Seats:

The driver is legally responsible for the safety of all children riding in the car. Please take the time to learn the basics of car seat safety, including how to install a child safety seat. 

• https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/child-passenger-safety

• https://www.youtube.com/user/SafetySeatVA

Children age 12 and under should not ride in the front seat of the car. Children age 8 and younger must be properly secured in a car seat or booster seat appropriate for their height and weight. 

Birth until age 2- The child should be in a high-backed, rear-facing car seat that is buckled tightly in the vehicle. It doesn’t move more than 1 inch when pushed or pulled. The 5-point harness fastens in the center of the chest and between the legs. The straps fit close to the child’s body.   

Ages 2-5- The child should be in a high-backed, forward-facing car seat that is buckled tightly in the vehicle. It doesn’t move more than 1 inch when pushed or pulled. The 5-point harness fastens in the center of the chest and between the legs. The straps fit close to the child’s body.  

Ages 5-8- After outgrowing the forward-facing car seat and until the car’s seat belt fits properly, the child should be in a booster seat so that the lap belt sits low on the child’s hips (not the stomach) and the van’s shoulder belt is on the child’s shoulder (not on the neck, under the arm, or behind the back), coming down across the center of the chest. The seat belt should be snug, flat, and comfortable. 

Ages 8-12-When the car’s seat belt fits properly and the child can sit all the way back with knees bent at the end of the seat, the child is ready to ride without a booster. The lap belt should sit low on the child’s hips (not the stomach) and the van’s shoulder belt should be on the child’s shoulder (not on the neck, under the arm, or behind the back), coming down across the center of the chest. The seat belt should be snug, flat, and comfortable. If the seat belt does not fit properly, the child must use a booster seat.

Sewing Program Volunteer – Heela Level 1 
Support newcomer women as they build skills toward employment and self-sufficiency through sewing. Volunteers commit to at least 1–2 hours per week for 6–11 weeks, delivering sewing kits and materials to clients' homes (primarily in the West End) and checking on their progress. The initial drop-off includes a sewing machine (approx. 12 lbs). Volunteers with sewing experience may also offer guidance on projects; those without can relay questions to the program director. Volunteers must be comfortable navigating language barriers, lifting light equipment, and climbing stairs. Your involvement helps clients gain confidence, practical skills, and connections that extend beyond the classroom. 

Sewing Instructor/Volunteer – Heela Level 2 

Join our Heela Level 2 course and help newcomer women take the next step toward employment and self-sufficiency through sewing. Volunteers commit to 3.5 hours per week over 10 weeks, supporting weekly in-person classes in Henrico. You’ll assist with classroom setup, provide one-on-one guidance, and help students troubleshoot their sewing projects without doing the work for them. Strong sewing skills are required, and teaching experience is preferred. Volunteers must be comfortable navigating language barriers. Your support plays a vital role in helping students earn a certificate and build confidence through skill-building and connection. 

For some programs, we utilize volunteers to support teachers in the classroom. Training will be provided on-site for each specific class.

Conversation Cafe is currently done in partnership with Third Church alongside their immigrant youth tutoring program. The atmosphere is a relaxed environment for upper beginner and intermediate speakers can practice and improve their English. Staff will organize and provide guidance and prompts to volunteers at each session. Please see the Building Cultural Awareness page and Communication with non-primary English Speakers for more information.

Volunteers are crucial to helping make our events successful. Make sure to check emails leading up to events and read details carefully!

Guidelines for Events:

• Always defer to ReEstablish Richmond staff with any questions or concerns.

• Please stay for the duration of your volunteer shift. If you need to leave early, please make sure to notify staff.

• Be present for the event, you are our eyes and ears during larger events helping us address issues and keeping participants safe.

For Outdoor Events:

• Dress comfortably for the weather, wear good shoes.

• Bring extra water, sunscreen, snacks, anything else you think you might need.

Please review these event safety guidelines before an event.