Refugee Assistance & Immigration Program (RAIS)

Welcome Center Professional Development Plan

Session Title
Refugee 101

1.

2.

3.

Train the Trainer:

Refugee 101

1.

2.

RAIS Program
Structure &
Timeline of
Services

1.

Learning Objectives
Basic understanding of the
international and domestic
refugee program.
Gain knowledge of
demographics of local
arrivals to the AK
community.
Identify challenges and
cultural struggles clients
face upon arrival.
Prepare staff members to
conduct community
presentations about refugee
resettlement and the RAIS
program.
Develop answers to
complicated and often
difficult questions about
refugees in our community.
Understand the different
parts of the program (a)
Reception & Placement (b)
Case Management (c)
Education & Employment (d)
Immigration.

Materials
Powerpoint
Glossary of
Agencies

Date of Session
Social Work Interns: August 25,
2015
UAA Nursing: September 15,
2015

Train the
Trainer Plan
Common
Refugee
Questions
Sheet

RAIS Staff Members: September

28, 2015

Powerpoint
Staff Match
Cards
Glossary of
Agencies

Social Work Interns: August 25,

2015

Working
effectively with
Refugees
Cultural
Competency

Cultural
Orientation
Training: An
Introduction for
Trainers

Cultural
Orientation
Training:
Curriculum
Overview &
Implementation

Culturally

2. Understand different grant

requirements and time
frames for services.
1. Understand different
components of culture and
considerations for working
with refugee clients.
2. Discuss cultural components
including: language,
religion, history, dress, food,
gender roles, education, and
values
1. Visit some common issues
that occur in the CO
classroom and problem
solve different solutions.
2. Establish common language
amongst staff for
1. Review CO objectives
2. Establish common language
amongst staff for content
area
3. Identify various
modifications to the
curriculum for different
cultural groups and English
proficiency
1. Introduce the concept of

AK Social Work Conference:

October 22, 2015
RAIS Partners Meeting: October
26, 2015

Powerpoint

https://www.y Scheduled Date: November 2, 2015

outube.com/w
atch?
v=X3H2Ak0gs
qA
Discussion
Group
RAIS 6 session Scheduled Date: November 16,
CO Curriculum 2015

Rychly, L. &

Scheduled Date: November 30,

2015

Responsive
Pedagogy

Cultural Relevant Teaching

2. Challenge the westernized
lecture style of teaching
3. Discuss how it is applicable
to the Welcome Center and
serving refugee clients
4. Develop CR curriculum ideas

Working with Adult

Learners

1. Discuss different factors that

affect adult learning
2. Compare the different styles
of teaching for children and
adults
1. Develop an understanding
of the different components
of a lesson plan
2. Establish common structure
for curriculum to ensure
continuity amongst
instructors
1. Consider the implications
that poverty has outside of
financials
2. Discuss story Telling and the
casual registry of clients in
poverty

Creating a Lesson
Plan

Culture of Poverty

Grave, E.
(2012)
Teacher
Characteristic
for Culturally
Responsive
Pedagogy,
Multicultural
Perspectives,
14(1), 44-49.
CAL Adult
Learning &
Retention
Article

Scheduled Date: December 14,

2015

CAL Methods
in Training
CAL Setting
up a Training
Room

Scheduled Date: January 11, 2015

A Framework
for
Understandin
g Poverty
(Ruby Payne)

RAIS Staff Meeting: September

4, 2015