Communication

Sponsors will have a Point of Contact (POC) within CCC. It may be the case manager or another staff member. Communication is vitally important so if you have any concerns regarding a client, please do not to hesitate to reach out to your POC.

Refugees are working with many different people and agencies from case workers to doctors, to school staff and ESL instructors. They are managing many new things and sometimes, with very limited English. It is important to be patient and clarify to minimize miscommunication and assumptions. If miscommunication does occur refer to CCC for guidance or clarification and keep in mind the following:

• CCC staff may already be aware of a concern and have already taken steps to address it.

• CCC staff may not be doing a task because they want the refugee to accomplish it on their own.

• A refugee may request assistance from multiple sources as reassurance that a concern or situation will be addressed.

• Help keep track of the many people that a family is working with—including individual and agency names, phone numbers, and services they are providing, as well as notating important conversations.

Miscommunication may also occur in the beginning of the relationship if interpreters are not always available. Below are tips to help communicate, and you may discover other creative ways of communicating such as visually or kinesthetically to convey your message.

Communication Tips

• Speak clearly, not louder.

• If you are not understood, try to use different words.

• Use your phone to show pictures. For example, show photos of a grocery store when asking if the family would like to go.

• Be aware that phone translation apps are not perfect and can sometimes be confusing.

• Write messages down. Many newly arrived refugees have friends or relatives in the community who will help translate.

• Know if the person you are speaking with has a relative or friend whom you can call for assistance when you MUST have interpretation (remember that translation is laborious for the person you are asking).

• Be mindful to not ask a child to interpret.