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Sponsor & Volag
[69-203]
Resettlement Agency & Sponsor Responsibilities
[69-203.1]
Most refugees who reach a community will have been resettled by one of the national voluntary agencies (VOLAG) working with the federal government and will have a local sponsor.
In resettling a refugee, the VOLAG and the sponsor undertake certain responsibilities as a moral commitment. These responsibilities include receiving the refugee and his/her family, providing shelter, food, clothing, pocket money, assistance in finding employment, enrolling the children in school, and medical costs.
Once employment is obtained, the sponsor will assist the refugee in locating permanent housing, acquiring minimal furniture, and arranging for utilities. Sponsors are also expected to help with the less tangible aspects of adjustment to a new culture.
If the sponsor does not meet any or all of the above commitments, the sponsorship agreement is not legally enforceable, and the refugee has the right to apply for any available assistance program.
County Responsibilities
[69-203.2]
Sponsor/VOLAGS Contacts and Verifications
As part of the RCA/ECA eligibility determination, the EW must contact the refugee(s) sponsor or VOLAG to complete the “VOLAG/SPONSOR” (SCD 1468) form. The following information MUST be provided:
- What assistance, if any the Sponsor or VOLAG is providing for the refugee, and
- Whether the refugee/entrant applicant has refused an offer of employment or has voluntarily quit a job within 30 calendar days prior to the beginning date of aid, or
- Whether the refugee/entrant recipient has refused an offer of employment or has voluntarily quit a job.
When the sponsor or VOLAG reports that the RCA/ECA applicant/recipient has refused an offer of employment or has voluntarily quit a job, a good cause determination must be completed. Refer to RCA & ECA Work Registration.
A “VOLAG/SPONSOR” (SCD 1468) form is required on all RCA/ECA cases.
Note: Prior written consent is not required from the refugee when contacting the sponsor or VOLAG.
Eligibility Worker Instructions
- At the time of eligibility determination, the EW is to request from the applicant/recipient the name, address and telephone number of their sponsor or VOLAG.
- The refugee applicant/recipient must be informed that refusal to provide information regarding his/her VOLAG or sponsor will be grounds for denial or discontinuance of aid.
- State and County policy is: The client's statement on the SAWS 2 is sufficient to determine if there is a sponsor and the sponsor's name, unless there is conflicting information.
- Contact the sponsor/VOLAG using the SCD 1468 for purposes of determining whether the refugee refused an offer of employment or quit a job.
- A telephone contact is sufficient to meet the requirements listed above; however, a written statement is preferred. A section on the SCD 1468 has been provided to document a telephone contact.
- Should there be a discrepancy between the information provided by the refugee and that provided by the VOLAG or sponsor, the EW should attempt to resolve the difference. In the absence of substantiating information from the VOLAG or sponsor, aid should be based on the information provided by the refugee. In cases where the information is unknown to the refugee, the county should document such in the case file, and in so doing the county will have met the requirements of this section.
- Where there is an emergency need for financial assistance or the VOLAG fails to respond in a timely manner, the requirements listed above will be temporarily waived in order to meet the emergency or case approval needs.
- When the sponsor is unable or unwilling to meet the total needs of the refugee(s) for whom he/she has accepted responsibility, grant aid in an amount sufficient to meet the unmet needs of the refugee(s) if they are otherwise eligible.
If, following the loss of contact with a sponsor and subsequent to the granting of aid to the refugee, the VOLAG secures a new sponsor for the refugee who accepts the responsibilities of sponsorship, and meets the needs of the refugee(s) in full, cash assistance shall be terminated. Only if the subsequent sponsor fails to meet the full needs of the refugee will the county grant cash assistance to the refugee.
VOLAGS
Ethiopian Community Development Council
| Location | Information |
|
Los Angeles
|
Ethiopian Community Development Council |
| San Diego |
Alliance for African Assistance |
Church World Service
| Location | Information |
|
Los Angeles
|
CWS/LIRS Refugee & Immigration Services 5250 Santa Monica Blvd. #305 Los Angeles, CA 90029 Tel: (323) 667-0489 Fax: (323) 667-2271 |
| Garden Grove | CWS/LIRS/EMM 13091 Galway St. Garden Grove, CA 92644 Tel: (714) 537-0608 Fax: (714) 537-7606 |
| Sacramento | CWS/LIRS/EMM 2117 Cottage Way Sacramento, CA 95825 Tel: (916) 568-5020 Fax: (916) 483-0268 |
| San Diego | Refugee Assistance Program 3295 Meade Ave. San Diego, CA 92116 Tel: (619) 284-1184 Fax: (619) 284-2084 |
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
| Location | Information |
|
Los Gatos
|
Resettlement Department |
| Los Angeles | Jewish Family Services Immigration & Resettlement 6380 Wilshire Blvd., #1200 Los Angeles, CA 90048 Tel: (213) 651-5573 Fax: (213) 651-5649 |
| San Francisco |
Jewish Family/Children’s Services Resettlement Office |
| Berkeley | Jewish Family/Children’s Services of East Bay 2484 Shatluck Ave., Suite 210 Berkeley, CA 94704 Tel: (510) 704-7475 Fax: (510) 704-7494 |
| Sacramento | Jewish Family/Children’s Services of East Bay 1333 Howe Ave., Suite 103 Sacramento, CA 95825 Tel: (916) 921-1921 Fax: (916) 921-1922 |
| San Diego | Resettlement Program J Jewish Family Services 4855 College Ave. San Diego, CA 92115-3908 Tel: (619) 497-0560 Fax: (619) 497-0441 |
| Orange | Director of Special Services Jewish Family Service 2029 W. Orangewood Orange, CA 92668 Tel: (714) 939-1111 Fax: (714) 939-1772 |
| Fresno | Jewish Federation 1340 W. Herndon, Suite 103 Fresno, CA 93711 Tel: (209) 432-2162 Fax: (209) 432-0425 |
International Institute
| Location | Information |
| Oakland | International Institute of East Bay 297 Lee St. Oakland, CA 94610 Tel: (510) 451-2846 Fax: (510) 465-3392 |
| Los Angeles | Institute of Los Angeles 3845 Selig Place Los Angeles, CA 90031 Tel: (323) 224-3800 Fax: (323) 224-3810 |
International Rescue Committee
| Location | Information |
| San Jose | International Rescue Committee 90 E. Gish Rd., Suites E & F San Jose, CA 95112 Tel: (408) 453-3536 Fax: (408) 453-1088 |
| San Francisco | International Rescue Committee 1370 Mission St., 4th floor San Francisco, CA 94103 Tel: (415) 863-3777 Fax: (415) 863-9264 |
| Los Angeles | International Rescue Committee 3727 W. 6th St., Suite 619 Los Angeles, CA 90020-5111 Tel: (213) 386-6700 Fax: (213) 386-7916 |
| San Diego | International Rescue Committee 4535 30th St. San Diego, CA 92116 Tel: (619) 641-7510 Fax: (619) 641-7520 |
| Sacramento | International Rescue Committee C/O First Evangelical Slavic Baptist Church 7238 Cronwell Way Sacramento, CA 95822 Tel: (916) 421-2162 Fax: N/A |
United States Catholic Conference
| Location | Information |
| San Jose | Immigration & Refugee Services Catholic Charities 1445 Koll Circle Suite #110 San Jose, CA 95112 Tel: (408) 392-9923 |
| San Francisco | Refugee Services Catholic Charities 814 Mission St., 6th floor San Francisco, CA 94103 Tel: (415) 844-4471 Fax: (415) 844-4747 |
| Los Angeles | Immigration & Refugee Department Catholic Charities 1530 W 9th St./PO Box 15095 Los Angeles, CA 90015-0095 Tel: (213) 251-3460 Fax: (213) 251-3444 |
| San Diego | Refugee & Immigration Services Catholic Charities 4575 A Mission Gorge Pl. San Diego, CA 92120 Tel: (619) 287-9454 Fax: (619) 287-6328 |
| Santa Ana | Immigration/Refugee Resettlement Catholic Charities 1506 Brookhollow, Suite 112 Santa Ana, CA 92705 Tel: (714) 662-7500 Fax: (714) 545-7163 |
| San Bernardino | Catholic Charities 1450 N. “D” St. San Bernardino, CA 92405 Tel: (909) 338-1239 Fax: (909) 384-1130 |
| Fresno | Refugee Services - Catholic Charities 149 N. Fulton St. Fresno, CA 93701-1607 Tel: (209) 264-6400 Fax: (209) 237-7144 |
| Santa Rosa | Catholic Charities P.O. Box 4900 Santa Rosa, CA 95402 Tel: (707) 528-8712 Fax: (707) 575-4910 |
| Oakland | Catholic Charities 433 Jefferson St. Oakland, CA 94607 |
World Relief Refugee Services
| Location | Information |
| San Jose | World Relief Refugee Services 218 Kirk Ave. San Jose, CA 95127 Tel: (408) 729-3786 Fax: (408) 729-3086 |
| San Francisco | World Relief Refugee Services Western Area Office 1095 Market St., Suite 719 San Francisco, CA 94103 Tel: (415) 431-5194 Fax: (415) 431-5198 |
| Garden Grove | World Relief Refugee Services 7461 Garden Grove Blvd., Suite B Garden Grove, CA 92641 Tel: (714) 890-0665 Fax: (714) 890-0366 |
| Fresno | World Relief Refugee Services 2915 E. Normal Fresno, CA 93703-6131 |
Health Services
Park Alameda Health Facility
976 Lenzen Avenue
San Jose, CA 95l26
Telephone: 299-6970
The following services are available to all refugees:
- Community Outreach & Education Family Planning
- Health Assessment, Referral & Follow-up
Health Assessment, Referral & Follow-up Clinic hours are by appointment only as follows:
| Doctor’s Clinic | Nurse’s Clinic | Nurse Practitioner |
| 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday & Thursday only |
8:00 a.m. to ll:00 a.m., and l:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday CLOSED Wednesday |
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mondays 8:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. Fridays |
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