Sponsor circles prepare to cover expenses for the 3-month sponsorship period at a minimum of $1,000 per newcomer. To apply, you will need to upload documentation that shows you have 50% of the required funds ($500 per newcomer).

Sponsors plan to help newcomer(s) access transportation and ensure they have safe, affordable housing over the length of the initial sponsorship period.

Key considerations

• Consider the cost of utilities and proximity to public transportation, schools, shopping, and jobs.

• Think about other requirements and fees, such as security deposits, previous landlord references, credit scores, or proof of income, and how you can help the newcomer(s) navigate these requirements.

• The goal is for newcomers to take over rent payments at the end of the 3-month sponsorship period.

Sponsors provide an introduction to their community and life in the United States. This includes topics like home and personal safety, rights and responsibilities, laws, navigating public transportation, banking, cultural practices, and community resources.

Sponsors communicate with newcomer(s) in their language by using translation tools and professional interpretation. 

Key considerations

• You will be helping new arrivals navigate complicated processes like signing up for health care and benefits, so being able to communicate clearly is key. In-person or phone interpretation is required for appointments and discussing important information, while apps like Google Translate or Tarjimly can be used for more casual settings.

• Do not assume that the newcomers will speak English. 

• Newcomer youth or adults should not translate for other members of their family.

• Identify potential sources of affordable or free interpreters available in your community, such as colleges/universities, churches, and cultural groups.

Sponsors help newcomer(s) learn and practice English. This could include English language classes, conversation circles at libraries, tutoring through local literacy groups, or regular conversational practice.

Sponsors help each newcomer secure essential documentation:

• state ID

• driver’s license for eligible refugees

• change of address form

• Selective Service registration for males 18-25

Sponsors help newcomer(s) find work by introducing them to the American workplace, connecting them with workforce development services, helping them develop short-term and long-term employment goals, and supporting resume preparation and interview practice.

Key considerations

• The ultimate goal is for newcomers to secure full-time, year-round employment with benefits and become self-sufficient. We recognize how hard it can be to find any job, and the reality is that this will be a process. Though the first job may not directly lead to self-sufficiency, it’s a step in the right direction. A part-time or seasonal job will help newcomer adults become familiar with job demands and expectations in the United States.

• In some rural communities, it may be necessary to find employment in the nearest large town or city.

Resources

• You can find employment listings on State Department of Labor websites, at your local library, and on job boards such as Welcome Employment.

• Switchboard’s Job Readiness Curriculum empowers newcomers to find and succeed in jobs — offering tools to help them understand work documents, their rights as workers, different career paths, and personal finance.

Sponsors help newcomer(s) access any public benefits they may be eligible for (e.g., time-limited cash assistance, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance, medical assistance, Supplemental Security Income).

Resources

• Refugee Welcome Collective’s State Resource Guide provides information about cash and food assistance, health care, programs for English Language Learners, job search assistance, and other valuable resources specific to your state. 

• You can also refer to Benefits.gov, United Way’s 2-1-1 service, and the FindHello app.

Sponsors help newcomer(s) navigate health care and mental health resources and complete health screening requirements. 

Sponsors help newcomer(s) enroll kids in school, locate child development programs, and find childcare. Children are required by law to attend school. Consult your local school district or state regulations for specific ages and requirements, such as immunizations.

Sponsors seek out cultural connections for newcomer(s) wherever possible — things like cultural foods, houses of worship, or connecting directly with other people who have relocated from the same country.

• Cultural connections should be facilitated in collaboration with newcomers.

• Remember to never assume that newcomers will want to engage with their own religious or ethnic community.

Sponsor circles plan for the transition from the initial 3-month sponsorship period when their support ends.

Key considerations

• Make sure newcomer(s) can access support and services during the ongoing integration process.

• Investigate what community services are available that can provide support after your sponsorship period, including through public social service programming, local non-profits, or resettlement agencies.

• Think about how you can continue to mentor newcomer(s) if needed after the sponsorship period ends.

Sponsor circles complete reports and surveys to provide the program with feedback and data on sponsorship results and impact.

This includes:

• Complete 30- and 90-day reports.

• Complete 6-month and 12-month sponsorship experience surveys.

• Support the process for newcomer(s) to complete surveys within 30 days of arrival, at 6 months, and 12 months post-arrival.

• Communicate critical incidents affecting your ability to deliver on sponsor duties and/or any issues that impact newcomer safety and wellbeing.