RESOURCES FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS
Hi new volunteer, let us welcome you with a collaborative playlist curated by ReEstablish Richmond staff and volunteers:
After attending training, explore the following resources to feel confident navigating the first few weeks as a ReEstablish Richmond volunteer.
GENERAL
If your volunteer role will include providing transportation for a client, please read our Guidelines for Driving Clients.
If you will be driving a client and their child/ren, please review the following:
Child Passenger Safety | Virginia Department of Health
Car Seat Installation - Videos | Safety Seat VA
Building Rapport | This page examines rapport and how it can be built, especially when meeting new people.
Intercultural Awareness | Ideas to develop intercultural awareness.
Intercultural Communication | SkillsYouNeed A Starting Point for Intercultural Communication.
The Mentoring Relationship Cycle | Mentors have an easier time getting through trouble spots in their mentoring relationships if they understand the basics of the typical match “life cycle.”
ORR Resource Page | A helpful list of online and in-person resources for resettled refugees from the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Refugee and Immigrant Volunteer Summit (RAIVS) | For the past 3 years, ReEstablish Richmond has partnered with Sacred Heart Center and the International Rescue Committee to host a series of training sessions for volunteers and community members supporting newcomers. Since this year’s event was virtual, we are able to share recordings. You might find the following session helpful: Trauma Informed Care - John Richardson Lauve from ChildSavers
Refugee Stories | Hear from refugees about their experience resettling in the United States.
Cultural Awareness
This page on our volunteer portal dives into cultural awareness resources related to each of our client communities.
COMMUNICATION TOOLS
WhatsApp is a free messaging and calling app used widely for international communication. It is incredibly popular amongst refugee and immigrant communities for staying in contact with their loved ones. WhatsApp lets users message, call, and video chat with each other.
Zoom is an online video calling platform that allows users with free membership unlimited 1:1 meetings.
Microsoft Teams is an online video calling and messaging platform. If students are using school chrome books, Zoom may be blocked and Teams is a helpful alternative.
Skype is an online video calling and messaging platform. No signups or downloads are required.
You can generate a link through the website and share it.
How to use skype meet now function tutorial
Talking Points is a multilingual education platform that connects and empowers families and teachers by using two-way translated communication. This is a great and easy way to be able to communicate with clients with limited English proficiency. You can send messages through the website or download the app for teachers.
Sign up for an account either through the website or app. It is designed for teachers but can be used by anyone working to support education and needing to communicate with students’ families.
You will need to select your role when signing up, and as a volunteer tutor, you can choose either “Coordinator- Parent Engagement/Family Liaison” or “Other- Tutor.”
(There is also an app for parents, but they do not need to download it. They can receive your messages through Talking Points just as they would a text message, if you manually add the student to your “class.”)
RESOURCES FOR ENGLISH TUTORS
To join the WhatsApp group for English tutors, click the link below. When you do, please introduce yourself with your full name: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CifC738jEDa6BgU4pKS2xJ
7 Free ESL Conversation Lesson Plans
Distance Learning for ELLs: Colorín Colorado Guide | This guide by Kristina Robertson shares ideas on how to get started with distance learning for English language learners, tools that can increase language production, and lessons learned about communicating with multilingual families during COVID-19.
ESL Conversation Questions and Answers – 75 Topics
Introduction to Teaching Reading online | Resource from the University of Florida Literacy Center
Nancy Riddlemoser’s Training | ESL Top 10 Tips
Refugee and Immigrant Volunteer Summit (RAIVS) |
Tutoring People in Refugee Communities: How to Get Started This is an updated version of Nancy Riddlemoser's training. For the powerpoint presentation click here.
Teaching Citizenship - Strategies and Techniques to Enhance Adult Students’ Learning
Building Students' Comfort with English in a Virtual Environment
Sandra Slavin’s Training | Using mobile technology to enhance refugee engagement
RESOURCES FOR MENTORS: LEARNER’S PERMIT SUPPORT
Here is a link to our Google folder of learner's permit study materials, including a pdf of the Virginia driver's manual. Start by watching this orientation video by Laura Jones who runs the Transportation Program to get an overview of the learner’s permit process and how your support fits into it. The most important item is our curriculum called 2021 ReR Learner's Permit study course (available in Google slides format or pdf, whichever is easiest for you to access). Also, there is a document that outlines each step in the driver's license process. It is called How to Obtain a Driver's License in Virginia.
The official DMV online practice questions will help clients prepare for the actual test and testing format. More information about these practice questions and/or the learner’s permit testing process can be found on this page of our Volunteer Portal.
RESOURCES FOR MENTORS: CITIZENSHIP SUPPORT
The Civics Test beginning on April 19, 2021, USCIS will only offer the 2008 civics test at the initial interview appointment regardless of filing date.
USA Hello is a free online center for information and education for refugees, asylum seekers, immigrants and welcoming communities.
U.S. citizenship test questions and answers