Refugee Cultural Orientation Administrator

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All newly arrived refugees are provided cultural orientation (CO) on 15 topics as mandated by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM). The purpose of these orientations is to help refugees adjust to life in a new country and learn about life in the United States. CO topics include: the role of the refugee resettlement agency, refugee status, English learning, public assistance, US laws, navigating a new community, employment, health and safety, cultural adjustment, education, and transportation. This role includes a mix of direct services through working with refugees and indirect service of providing administrative support. This role may be partially tailored to the intern’s interests and availability.

• Regularly observe and assist with adult CO trainings; increasingly co-teach or teach CO to test functionality of curriculum updates
• Adapt national CO handouts for the Phoenix area and particularly LSS-SW clients.
• Create a handbook for new volunteer training instructors, including presentation notes and supplementary materials.
• Update CO presentations as needed to promote learning objectives.
• Increase curriculum’s comprehension and retention checks (e.g. presentation questions, short pre/post-test surveys, group activities, etc.).

This role offers opportunities to:

• Help newly arrived refugees learn about their new community
• Increase public speaking skills
• Work with interpreters speaking many different languages from around the world
• Gain experience with diverse international clients (refugees) and staff
• Gain practical knowledge of the intricacies of the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program.

• Must be flexible, adept in a fast changing environment, and self-motivated
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision
• Will need strong Microsoft Word skills
• Personal experience learning languages or integrating into a foreign country is useful
• Previous experience developing curriculum, teaching ESL, or working with limited English proficiency individuals preferred

Some work may be completed at the LSS-SW Refugee and Immigration Services office in central Phoenix (3443 N Central Ave). Many tasks may be completed remotely. To do so, volunteer will have need to have access to a computer, the internet, and an active email account.

Level one fingerprint clearance card required (cost $65, valid 6 years). Central registry background check required (free).

The volunteer will receive specific training in refugee resettlement adult education programming and more general training on refugee resettlement operations.

Minimum commitment: 3 months

Preferred availability on Tuesdays from 10am-1pm. Most tasks may be completed off-site.