Our Refugee & Immigrant Community Services’ (RICS) program partners with refugees, asylees, humanitarian parolees, immigrants, and survivors of trafficking to address their needs by connecting them to their new community, providing education and employment services, and other supports needed to succeed in their new country. We work with participants from all over the world – Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Senegal, South Sudan, and Syria.
Volunteers provide invaluable support to our participants. The unprecedented scale of arrivals in recent years means we are relying on community support more than ever. If you are interested in getting involved, see opportunities below to learn how you can provide long-term and short-term support to newly arrived refugees.
Anyone interested in volunteering can reach out to Frank at fzator@heartlandhumancareservices.org for more information on our programming and upcoming orientations.
New Neighbor/Adult Mentoring
Support an adult refugee (25+) as they build a life in Chicago, while building a friendship along the way. Some of the ways you can support a new arrival include:
- Neighborhood orientations
- Help a refugee get to know the city
- Public transit orientations
- Career coaching
- Resume development
- Career planning
- Professional development
- Social support
- Conversation practice
Program Requirements:
- Obtain Background Check (price can vary depending on previous residencies, but usually costs $21.75).
- Become a mandated reporter through the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS).
- Attend a virtual HHCS new volunteer orientation on Zoom. Contact Frank Zator to register at fzator@heartlandhumancareservices.org.
Adult English Tutoring
Our volunteers are currently working with participants in-person and remotely via Zoom, WhatsApp, Skype, etc. We serve refugees, asylum-seekers, and immigrants from around the world: Burma, Central African Republic, Congo, Eritrea, Iraq, Malaysia, Mexico, Sudan, Syria, and Venezuela.
The Vocational English Language Training (VELT) team is specifically looking for volunteers who are available to tutor one-on-one digitally, once or twice a week. Our tutors work with adult participants on basic English literacy, conversational English, job interview practice, Citizenship preparation, and more.
Program requirements:
- Commit 1-3 hours a week for at least 6 months.
- Obtain Background Check (price can vary depending on previous residencies, but usually costs $21.75).
- Complete a free, 12-hour pre-service Tutor Essentials tutor training through Literacy Works. This wonderful training provides tools for tutors to use right away! It covers principles of adult language learning, materials and resources, and curricula for you to use in tutoring. You can learn more about the tutor training here.
- Become a mandated reporter through the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS).
- Attend a virtual HHCS new volunteer orientation on Zoom. Contact Frank Zator to register at fzator@heartlandhumancareservices.org.
Young Adult Mentoring Program
Support a newly arrived young adult as they navigate some of the most important decisions of their young lives, provide encouragement, and connect them to resources as they encounter obstacles, and share your joys and sorrows with one another. Mentors will meet with their mentees for four hours per month, or about an hour a week, for six months to work towards goals they have set for themselves. This can include supporting them as they enroll in English classes, get their GED, apply to college, or something as simple showing them around Chicago or being a sympathetic ear to answer questions.
Program Requirements:
- Dedicate 4 hours a month for at least 1 year.
- Obtain Background Check (price can vary depending on previous residencies, but usually costs $21.75).
- Become a mandated reporter through the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS).
- Attend a virtual HHCS new volunteer orientation on Zoom. Contact Frank Zator to register at fzator@heartlandhumancareservices.org.
Interested in volunteering in other ways? Let us know!
Our volunteer program is always expanding! We plan to have volunteer programming for one-on-one youth tutoring, neighborhood orientations, and airport pick-ups for new families in the near future. If any of these potential opportunities interest you, or you have other ideas for how you can contribute, please feel free to reach out!
Don’t have the capacity to volunteer long-term? Here are other ways to support:
- Check out our Amazon Wishlist for items newly arrived refugees need right away! Items purchased off the list are directly shipped to our office and distributed to participants.
- One time volunteer commitment – Sign up to provide groceries for a new arrival’s first week in Chicago.
- Independently fundraise or do a donation drive within your network! Reach out to Frank Zator at fzator@heartlandhumancareservices.org information on current needs.