Volunteer

Position: Appointment Companion

Program: New American Program

Time Commitment: 2-5 hours/week; flexible days (Monday-Friday) and usually during standard working hours (9am to 5pm)

Location: Greater Springfield, MA, with some appointments in central MA and Hartford, CT 

Description of Role: 

Before resettled families can independently navigate their community, they often have no means of transportation other than JFS staff and other volunteers. As an Appointment Companion, you will help the family get to and navigate important appointments, grocery shopping, and recreational events. This is an especially important role for our elderly clients who need extra support learning to navigate around U.S. systems. There are two ways to be an Appointment Companion: 

 Option 1: Provide transportation in your own vehicle to critical errands, appointments and events and guide clients through the appointment by educating them. 

 Option 2: Become a “Bus-Buddy” and introduce them to the public transportation system, help them learn how to take the bus independently, and teach them how to access the schedules of PVTA. 

 Please indicate your preference in the interest form below!  

Requirements for the Role: 

Option 1:  

•  Access to a driving license and a car
• Ability to devote 2-3 hours at a time with each trip
• Ability to be flexible around time
• Ability to navigate a language and literacy barrier

Option 2 “Bus Buddies”: 

• A good understanding of the public transportation system
• Ability to communicate with clients through Google Translate or repeating information in different forms of communication
• Flexibility to be with the family for a few hours to learn the routes
• Ability to have fun on this bus tour!

Position: Fingerprint Appointment Companion

Program: New American Program

Time Commitment: 2-6 hours/month during business hours (M-F). Appointments last 15-20 minutes.

Location: Appointments are usually in East Hartford.

Requirements: Driving the clients to/from USCIS (usually in Hartford, CT) and waiting during their appointment. (Length of appointments vary, but it averages 30 minutes)

Position: Attorney Volunteer

Program: New American Program

Time Commitment: 2 to 6 hours per week. Minimum 3-month commitment.

Location: Virtual online, and/or in-person Springfield

 Description of Role:

Volunteer attorneys will contribute their knowledge and experience in filling out and supporting JFS clients during asylum applications. The volunteer will be working 1:1 and helping eligible clients.

 Requirements for the Role:

• Must be a barred attorney
• Experience working with asylum applications
• Must be comfortable meeting with a client 1:1
• Must be comfortable handling and properly storing confidential information

Position: Child Engagement Volunteer
Program: New American Program
Time Commitment: 2 hours minimum/week, 1-3 days a week. (Classes run Monday-Friday 10am-1pm except Wed. 12-3pm). Minimum 3-month commitment.
Location: Springfield and West Springfield, MA 

Description of Role: As a volunteer in the early literacy program, you will supervise infants and toddlers (age 0-4 years old) in an educational and fun setting while their parents are participating in class. JFS provides books, toys, games, and other age-appropriate materials. We have seen many children go from not speaking a word of English to starting to communicate with us in introductory English. We greatly appreciate volunteers who can consistently show up for them on assigned days and be present for them throughout the program.

Requirements for the Role: 

• Enjoy working with children and supporting them in their learning and development.

• Ability to develop connections with children and work closely with them to develop the skills needed to adapt to life, and eventually school, in the U.S.

• Enthusiastic, kind, and patient attitude and a willingness to adjust to the children’s individual needs.

• Ability to move around with infants and toddlers and perform activities with them for two hours.

• Having an enthusiastic, kind, and patient attitude. 

• Ability to teach children to follow instructions, practice English, and play cooperatively with others, which directly translates to their capacity to thrive.

Position: English Language Coach and Classroom Support
Program: New American Program
Time Commitment: 2 to 3 hours per week; minimum 2 days/week for individual tutors or 1 day/week for classroom assistants. Minimum 6-month commitment.
Location: Virtual online, and/or in-person around Western Massachusetts

Description of Role: English Language Coaches work with clients either in-person in the greater Springfield area or remotely from anywhere. Language Coaches provide critical English language skills to clients to assist them in adjusting to their lives in Western Massachusetts and becoming self-sufficient. Language Coaches form strong bonds with learners and play an integral role in the Learning Program at JFSWM.

At times, there may be opportunities available for volunteers to support existing group language classes as a classroom assistant. Please indicate your preference for online or in-person language coaching, or if you prefer to be in a classroom setting.

Requirements for the Role: 

• Must have teaching or tutoring experience or willingness to undergo tutor training led by agency staff.

• Must be able to meet with student(s) at least 2 times a week (preferably not two days back-to-back) or commit to supporting an in-person class at least once a week.
• Willingness to work with clients with very limited English and to adjust to their individual needs.
• Openness to other cultures and a kind, welcoming, and patient attitude toward clients from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Position: Refugee Youth Mentor   
Program: New American Program 
Time Commitment: 1 to 3 hours per week, 6-month minimum 
Location: In-person, Springfield, Hybrid possible 

Description of Role: The Refugee Youth Mentoring program is a formal mentoring program that matches refugee youth between the ages of 18 to 24 with volunteer mentors in the community to build intercultural relationships and help the youth adjust to life in a new country. In cases where mentees are ages15-17, mentorship activities will take place with the parent or adult designee and the youth.  

Matches meet on a weekly basis online or in-person to explore interests, educational and job opportunities, or other goals as the program sees fit. Successful mentors serve as role models, advocates, guides, and supportive friends to young new Americans at a crucial time in their development. 

Responsibilities include:  

• Commitment to building a supportive relationship with refugee youth 

• Ability to connect every week with your mentee for 1-2 hours 

• Ability to explore resources and make connections in response to mentees interests, goals, and needs 

• An interest in sharing community, educational, and career-related resources with mentees 

• Ability to support mentee(s) to improve English, as needed 

• Participation in orientation and training sessions and regular check-in meetings with JFS staff 

• Completion of weekly online log to record time spent with mentee and share stories or concerns 

• Communication with program coordinator if any concerns or problems arise 

Requirements for the Role:  

• Previous mentoring experience or a strong interest in serving as a supportive friend and role model in a young person’s life 

• Experience supporting New American learners 

• Ability to communicate and empathize with a young person from a different culture 

• Ability to respond to the interests and concerns of a young person 

• Proficiency with Zoom, WhatsApp, other online platforms (or willingness to learn!)