Refugee Foster Care
Foster families provide a safe, nurturing and stable environment for these refugee youth who do not have parents or adults who can provide care. They welcome the youth into their home and family, providing the same love and guidance as they would their biological children. Foster families are paid a stipend by the agency to help offset for the costs associated with having an additional person in the household.
Transitional Foster Care
If you live in Lansing or Ann Arbor and are interested in working with refugee youth but would prefer shorter-term placements or working with younger youth, consider transitional foster care. Transitional foster homes offer short-term care for youth who have crossed the US border in hopes of being united with a family member living in the United States. Most of these children are Spanish-speaking and between the ages of 5 and 13 years old. These placements are usually shorter than 45 days, during which time our agency works to locate the child’s parents or other family members for unification. Transitional foster parents must meet requirements for foster parent licensing and training set by the State of Michigan .
Host Homes (Rent a Room)
Host homes rent a room to youth who no longer need the extra guidance of a foster family, but are not ready to be entirely on their own. Host families are not legally responsible for the youth in their home, but provide guidance and help teach skills necessary for successful independence, like cooking, budgeting, and maintaining a household. Host homes are paid monthly rent by the youth, negotiated before a youth moves into the home.
Mentoring
Mentors are volunteers who build a relationship of unconditional caring and friendship to help refugee teens learn independent living and social skills. As positive role models, mentors share their knowledge and experience to help the youth adjust to differences they experience in the United States. Mentors also help them explore educational and career choices.
Tutoring
Tutors help youth succeed in a new educational system and develop positive study habits. Tutors must have a bachelor’s degree in any field of study and may work with one youth or several.
Interpreters
Interpreters facilitate effective communication for limited English proficient refugee youth. They bridge the gap between language barriers and help the youth adjust to their new home. Interpreters are responsible for listening to, understanding, and translating spoken or written statements from one language to another. Interpreters are paid for providing this service and must be fluent in both English and one other target language.