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What is family sponsorship?
Refugee sponsors assist newly arrived refugees with basic necessities during their first few months in the U.S. In addition to helping refugees with their basic needs, sponsors guide refugees on a path towards self-sufficiency.
Currently, all refugees coming to Minnesota are joining family or friends. There are some cases, however, where the relative sponsor may not have the capacity to meet all of the new arrivals’ needs. These are cases where congregations can make a significant difference in a new refugee’s adjustment to life in the U.S. By offering support to refugees, congregations live out God’s call to welcome the stranger, and may help transform a refugee’s new country into a new home.
What are the responsibilities of a sponsoring congregation?
Congregations work with the sponsoring relative and Refugee Services staff to provide new refugees with their basic necessities. This work might involve:
- Gathering together essential furnishings
- Assisting with school or ESL registration
- Helping new refugees apply for Social Security cards and public assistance
- Assisting with an employment search
The most important responsibility of a sponsoring congregation is to help new arrivals move towards self-sufficiency.
Who is involved in family sponsorship?
Congregational sponsorship utilizes the unique gifts, talents and resources of an entire faith community, yet is most effective if steered by the efforts of a committed and passionate group within the congregation. A sponsorship committee is led by a coordinator, and organized into several committees that focus on housing, furnishings, school, employment, transportation, finances and hospitality. The core sponsorship team can range from 6-15 people. Congregations are asked to make a sponsorship commitment for a 6-month period.
How are congregations supported in this work?
Congregations interested in refugee sponsorship begin by meeting with a Refugee Services staff member. Through a series of 3 or more meetings, Refugee Services will help the congregation organize a sponsorship team, provide information about the needs and culture of the refugee family, and inform the team of the family’s arrival. Refugee Services matches a congregation with a refugee family overseas after assessing the team’s needs and capabilities. The sponsor family and Refugee Services case manager will be present at the last meeting with the sponsorship team before the family’s arrival.
Once the refugees arrive, the sponsorship team works closely with a Refugee Services caseworker, who serves as a resource and guide through the resettlement process.
Who do I contact to find out more?
Kristin Zoellner - Resources Coordinator
(612) 230-3219
Kristin.Zoellner@mnchurches.org
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