2017-151-E Health - Chapel Hill - Carrboro Human Rights Center dba Refugee Community Partnership - Outside Agency Performance Agreement

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DocuSign Envelope ID:3C5A2744-D635-47D4-8E91-68273BC0AA70 people are often forced to work 2-3 jobs to make ends meet. If health issues arise-and they often do--and the working adult of the family is unable to work for a few days,this can mean the family cannot cover rent or utilities, compromising their ability to regain financial footing. The language barrier,coupled with unfamiliarity with US systems, obstructs forcibly displaced people's ability to break out of low-wage work, While they study English during their non- working hours, gaining E=nglish speaking skills advanced enough to unlock the doors to improved employment takes many, many years, locking them instead into a persistent cycle of poverty. These realities present a paradox: skilled workers are eager for work, and because the only options available to them are unskilled labor, they fall quickly into the socioeconomic cracks. We are implementing solutions. Utilizing our 80-person strong network of volunteers and collaborating with local business owners, we are working to develop pathways to job improvement for local refugees. RCP volunteers—who work one-on-one with -200 local refugees already--will gather information on an individual's past profession and work experience. In partnership with program staff, volunteers and refugee individuals will build a resume, highlighting translatable skills and experience. Staff have already begun conversations with the Carrboro Business Alliance and the Carrboro-Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce to convene local business owners to identify and construct employment positions specially for refugees. RCP staff will provide trainings on communication methods that employers can use to circumnavigate language barriers and the cultural behaviors and norms of the diverse ethnicities represented in the refugee working population, also providing interpreters when needed. Funding Request In order to allocate staff time to helping refugees locate and access better work opportunities, we are requesting $14,120. These funds will be used to support RCP's Program Manager and Executive Director to identify the individuals seeking improved employment options, collect data on past vocations and translatable skills, identify and establish relationships with potential employers, and accompany individuals through the interview and hiring process. Allocated time would also include training existing and incoming volunteers on our process for identifying, contacting, and engaging potential employers so that tasks can be transferred from staff to volunteers, reducing the cost per individual over time. We have piloted this endeavor already. In the past 2 weeks we have secured improved employment for two refugee folks, and the impact cannot be overstated. In addition to the economic impact of higher wages--which means families can cover basic expenses and begin to focus on building savings--work environments with local business owners tend to be more supportive and familial, relieving psychological distress and serving as a socially supportive space. The ripple-effect that improved employment opportunities have on other facets of daily life are enormous.