The Road Ahead: A Domestic Cultural Orientation Curriculum
The Road Ahead is a comprehensive curriculum for individuals delivering Cultural Orientation in the United States. The Road Ahead supports local providers in delivering effective Cultural Orientation that covers all of the domestic Cultural Orientation Objectives and Indicators. This curriculum serves as a foundation and can be adapted to align with the local context.
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The Road Ahead: A Domestic Cultural Orientation Curriculum
The Road Ahead is broken into four sequential sessions, each taking between two to three hours. While four sessions are suggested, Cultural Orientation providers are encouraged to schedule programming in a way that best supports newcomers. The Road Ahead is comprised of three components:
- Curriculum Overview: This document describes curriculum themes, features, tips for designing CO, supporting resources, and more.
- Session Planning Guides: These documents offer planning guidance to review before each Cultural Orientation session. Examples of guidance include key messages, suggested timing, related resources, and more.
- Presentation Materials: During all four sessions, Cultural Orientation topics are introduced to participants through interactive slides. These slides include a suggested facilitator script, activity instructions, suggested modifications, convenient links to additional resources, and more. Presentation slide decks and learning activities are available in Arabic, Burmese, Dari, English, Kinyarwanda, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Ukrainian.
The Road Ahead: Session Guides and Presentation Materials
Download comprehensive, presentation materials to enhance your Cultural Orientation sessions. Session guides provide planning tips, key messages, and resources to review before each Cultural Orientation session. Once you have planned your session, download interactive presentation materials to make your Cultural Orientation sessions more engaging.
This session is built around the theme of partnership. This session covers the following topics from the Cultural Orientation Objectives and Indicators : The Role of the Resettlement Agency, Housing, Your New Community, and Cultural Adjustment.
This session is built around the theme of well-being. This session covers the following topics from the Cultural Orientation Objectives and Indicators: Health and Hygiene, Safety, and U.S. Laws.
This session is built around the theme of growth. This session covers the following topics from the Cultural Orientation Objectives and Indicators: Employment, Transportation, Education, and Learning English.
This session is built around the theme of self-sufficiency. This session covers the following topics from the Cultural Orientation Objectives and Indicators: Public Assistance, Budgeting and Personal Finance, Digital Literacy, Newcomer Rights and Responsibilities, and Cultural Adjustment.
How to Use The Road Ahead Materials
Familiarize yourself with the curriculum components, planning tips, additional resources, and helpful appendices before implementing The Road Ahead.
Prior to each Cultural Orientation session, review the Session Planning Guide. These guides outline the session theme, review session materials, and identify which sections of the presentation require modifications to meet your local needs.
Review the activities, facilitator notes, and suggested modifications to familiarize yourself with the content. Within each session, there are slides that require providers to input information relevant to their local community. Be sure to modify this information before starting your session. This is also an opportunity to add additional information that may be important for your participants.
Using the Presentation Materials to present essential information and engage participants in learning activities and group dialogues.
After each session, revisit the Session Planning Guide to complete reflection questions. These questions will support you in refining your facilitation skills and making the next session even better.
Related Resources
Cultural Orientation Objectives and Indicators
Working with Refugees
