Our Programs |
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Refugee Kid ConnectStarted by a volunteer in July 2017, Refugee Kids Connect is a no-cost academic support and enrichment program for kids ages 5-18. It is designed to offer activities for kids from families who have come to the US as refugees or immigrants. In the program, we encourage building friendships, confidence, future-thinking, and leadership skills through activities with a focus on arts, sports, outdoors, and academics. We also support with English language skills and offer homework help. Call our office to learn more or refer.
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Refugee Elder ProgramThe Refugee Elders Services program is dedicated to the empowerment of refugees and immigrants who came to the United States later in life. In addition to ensuring that elders are included in other RICS projects, RICS coordinates activities and events specifically tailored for refugee and immigrant elders. These include: basic ESL classes; elder service workshops; civic-oriented "Settling Into Spokane" field trips; training in the use of public transportation; and nutrition education. Call our office to learn more or refer.
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Prime ProgramThe Promoting Refugee Integration, Mobility and Empowerment (PRIME) Program is a government-funding program that promotes self-sufficiency of recently arrived refugees after their initial resettlement. RICS currently offers case management and short-term services to recently arrived families and individuals from many countries.
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Refugee and Immigrant Wellness Program
The Wellness Program supports the whole-person health of anyone who identifies as a refugee or immigrant of all ages and backgrounds. Rooted in a trauma-informed approach, we draw on community strengths to bolster individuals' social-emotional health. We focus on community connection, a sense of belonging and purpose, and positive experiences. We envision a Spokane where every community member has access to the services, spaces, support and social connections necessary to thrive.
Wellness offers support through light case management, counseling, community education, free yoga classes, and weekly food distribution. Additional programs under Wellness include Nature Connect and Growing Connections.
Call our office or sign up to learn more. |
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World Refugee Day
RICS hosts World Refugee Day each year with the support of about a dozen other local organizations. This community-wide celebration of local refugees for the annual United Nations World Refugee Day includes traditional foods, hand-made crafts, customary dances, and a citizenship swearing in ceremony.
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Nature ConnectNature Connect, a collaboration between the Wellness Program, Refugee Kids Connect, and the Lands Council, offers youth ages 5-18 opportunities to connect with the natural world, improve a sense of belonging, and build social-emotional skills such as mindfulness and peer connection.
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Growing Connections
In partnership with Launch Northwest, Growing Connections was established to support new and expecting immigrant and refugee parents and families with children from birth to five years old. Services include social and peer support for new and expecting parents, resource navigation in the Spokane community, and at-home early social emotional skills development to build lasting community connections through local outings and positive experiences.
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Patient PassportsRICS created and now distributes health-record booklets for refugees and immigrants to bring with them to the emergency room and doctors' offices. Each booklet is in English and one of many different translated languages. Patient Passports help people with limited English skills to communicate with health care providers to enhance their health and well-being.
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Refugee and Immigrant Stories: Voices of HopeRefugee and Immigrant Stories: Voices of Hope is a multi-media storytelling project designed to engage the whole community in education around refugee and immigrant issues from first hand knowledge from community leaders. We intend the stories to be audio, video, written, to be available on a variety of social media and media platforms.
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