Volunteer Opportunity: School Enrollment Advocate

Position Summary: 

Build relationships with newcomers and their families by enrolling students into a Memphis Shelby County school. Teach, advocate for, and work with newcomers to help them build confidence and autonomy in enrolling into and navigating school. No experience required. Diverse language ability is a plus.

 

Key Responsibilities may include but are not limited to: 

1. Volunteers will be matched with a newcomer family.
2. Volunteers will come alongside a family and aid in the enrollment process for each eligible child into their designated school
3. Make sure all needed documents are updated and gathered to bring to the school
4. Make sure eligible children have updated immunizations
5. If immunizations are needed, direct this to the assigned caseworker
6. If families request and volunteers are able, pick up and walk with students/families to their first day of school
7. If children will ride the school bus, show family members where the bus stop is located and explain pickup/drop off times
8. Introduce parents to office staff or whoever they will direct their questions, maybe school counselor
9. Be willing to assist families with PowerSchool (online platform)
10. Log volunteer hours in the WR Portal.

 

What an SEA is NOT expected to do: 

1. Navigate an IEP process with a family (this will be directed to the assigned caseworker)
2. Navigate any Kindergarten, Pre-School, or HeadStart eligible enrollments (These will be directed to the assigned caseworker)
3. Purchase any supply or article of clothing (please direct needs to the assigned caseworker if necessary)

 

Qualifications:

1. 18+ years old
2. Complete the World Relief volunteer onboarding (application, online workshop, local orientation, background check, motor vehicle check)
3. Willing to help newcomers navigate enrolling into the Shelby County School system
4. An individual with a flexible schedule during morning hours, as most schools take new enrollments during these hours.
5. Ability to advocate for and bridge communication gaps between newcomer families and their local schools
6. Ability and willingness to drive in the Memphis area
7. Bilingual in Spanish, Arabic, Kinyarwanda, Swahili, or Dari is preferred but not required

 

Time Commitment: 

1. This can be a one-time commitment, but volunteers do need to complete 1 school enrollment with a family before the commitment is considered met.
2. This opportunity will involve roughly 4 hours per enrollment (if multiple enrollments are needed, the time commitment will be greater). School enrollments are usually in the morning Monday-Friday, but it varies by school.

 

Benefits to Volunteer: 

1. Gain cross-cultural skills and experience
2. Begin mutually transformative friendships with refugees and other immigrants
3. Gain comfortability navigating a language barrier
4. Meet new people from diverse backgrounds and be part of a supportive team dedicated to welcoming well

 

Onboarding and Training:  

1. General short term/long term volunteer onboarding process, including an application, online workshop, local orientation, background check
2. RIYS will facilitate a SEA specific training to walk through the process of enrolling up to the first few days of school with the volunteer

 

Next training date for any new SEAs:  Friday, January 28th at WRM office 

(Recommended) Complete the Navigating Friendships course bundle on The World Relief Workshop (coupon code wrmemphis)