Resources for Sponsors and Community Partners
Newcomers resettling to the United States receive Cultural Orientation to learn about life in the United States, including topics and content outlined in the Cultural Orientation Objectives and Indicators. Cultural Orientation is a collaborative and iterative process that begins overseas and continues domestically. Traditionally, newcomers receive domestic Cultural Orientation from local Resettlement Agencies. However, Cultural Orientation is adapting to include the community and extend beyond the first 90 days. The Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange (CORE) supports the CO continuum, which is the delivery of Cultural Orientation overseas, domestically, and by the community.
A Community-Based Approach to Cultural Orientation
Community members including sponsors (e.g., co-sponsors, remote placement community partners, private sponsor groups, and sponsor circles) and community partners play an important role in delivering key Cultural Orientation messages. When community members contribute to the delivery of Cultural Orientation, we call it a community-based approach to Cultural Orientation. This page provides resources for community members who do not facilitate a domestic CO curriculum (i.e., the Road Ahead – CORE’s foundational domestic CO curriculum) for newcomers on an ongoing basis. Instead, sponsors and community partners should use the grab-and-go resources on this page. These resources provide instruction on how to integrate Cultural Orientation throughout your service provision and do not require the editing or printing of additional materials.
Photo Credit: Andrew Oberstadt /IRC
Defining Community Partners and Sponsors
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What’s the difference between a community partner and a sponsor?
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What’s the difference between a community partner and a sponsor?
The term community partner refers to organizations or individuals outside of the local resettlement agency that support newcomers, including but not limited to public safety workers, public assistance workers, educators, and healthcare professionals.
The term sponsor refers to community groups that provide direct resettlement services and financial support to newcomers as they resettle into their new communities. These groups may sponsor newcomers in collaboration with Resettlement Agencies, through the Sponsor Circle Program, or through private sponsorship groups, as a part of the Welcome Corps program.
Photo Credit: E Fichtner/IRC
What is the Sponsor Circle Program?
The Sponsor Circle Program is a community-led resettlement initiative that allows everyday Americans to take on the responsibility of welcoming specific newcomer groups to their communities. The program is an emergency response launched to ensure that all arriving newcomers receive welcome and support. The Sponsor Circle Program pairs newcomers from specific countries with community groups eager to provide support. Learn more about the Sponsor Circle Program here.
Photo Credit: Andrew Oberstadt /IRC
What is the Welcome Corps?
The Welcome Corps is a new program that empowers everyday Americans to come together to privately sponsor refugees. Through Welcome Corps, Americans can apply to form Private Sponsor Groups (PSGs) to welcome refugees into local communities and directly assist refugee newcomers as they build new lives in the United States. Learn more about Welcome Corps here.
Photo Credit: Andrew Oberstadt /IRC
What is the role of the Resettlement Agency?
Sponsorship has long existed in the United States. However, since the Refugee Act of 1980, Resettlement Agencies have played a formal and critical role in the provision of early resettlement services. As such, CORE’s resources reference the Resettlement Agency (or case manager) as the primary service provider.
When not sponsoring newcomers in collaboration with Resettlement Agencies, you are responsible to provide all early resettlement services. However, the Resettlement Agency may provide integration services to eligible newcomers. To avoid confusion, clarify your role and the role of the Resettlement Agency with newcomers.
Photo Credit: Sarah Stacke/IRC
Resources for Community Partners
The Community Partner fact sheets support educators, law enforcement, and state public assistance staff in incorporating key Cultural Orientation messages in their service provision. The fact sheets include tips for effective service delivery, example Cultural Orientation messages relevant to the community partner, and an example activity showing how community partners can incorporate these key Cultural Orientation messages into interactions with newcomers. While the resources contain general information for each service provider, community partners may want to add community-specific information and resources.
K-12 Educators
Law Enforcement
State Public Assistance Workers
Resources for Sponsors
Once you complete the mandatory trainings required to be certified and serve as a sponsor, you should:
Sponsorship Orientation
Onboarding Checklist for Sponsors
Cultural Exchange Activities
Sign Up for CORE’s Newsletter
Resources for Newcomers
The term newcomer includes refugees, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, and humanitarian parolees. Community partners and sponsors should review and share CORE’s Settle In resources with newcomers. Be sure to explore these resources before introducing them to newcomers. This will help you answer their questions. Newcomers can access CORE’s multilingual Settle In resources through a website, app, and social media.
Settle In Website
Settle In App
Settle In for Afghans
Settle In for Ukrainians
Additional Resources
- Community Sponsorship Hub: Information about all forms of sponsorship
- Refugee Welcome Collective: Training for sponsors
- Sponsor Circles: Sponsor Circle Program
- Welcome.US: Sponsorship portal
- Welcome Corps: Information on private sponsorship
- CORE: Learn more about refugee populations resettling in the United States
- Refugee Processing Center: Directory of local Resettlement Agencies
- Switchboard: Who are the Afghan Newcomers?
- Switchboard: Explore more resources for serving Afghan evacuees
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Uniting for Ukraine
- Switchboard: Uniting for Ukraine Support Line
- International Rescue Committee (IRC): Introduction to Case management for Refugee Service Providers
- Switchboard: What Can We Do to Protect Clients and Staff? Tips for Getting Started with Safeguarding and Protection
- Switchboard: Guide: Trauma-Informed Care: Movement Towards Practice
- Switchboard: Guide: Cultural Competence in Refugee Service Settings: Guidance for Service Providers Based on a Scoping Review of the Literature
- CORE: Working with Interpreters
- Switchboard: Introduction to Working with Interpreters
- Switchboard: Guide: Operation Allies Welcome: Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Programs & Resources
- Switchboard: Tip Sheet: USDA Rural Housing Service Program: An Available Option for the Afghan Resettlement Program
- Refugee Housing Solutions Tenant Toolkit: Arabic, Burmese, Congolese-Swahili, Dari, English, Kinyarwanda, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, and Ukrainian.
- Bridging Refugee Youth & Children’s Services (Brycs): Information hub for empowering immigrant children and their families
- Switchboard: Toolkit: Supporting Afghan Students in Schools & Youth Programs in the United States