Airport Extravaganza--part 1

I really enjoy my job.  I like my co-workers.  I love working with international clients.  I enjoy helping people and welcoming them to their new community.  BUT, my job does stress me out.  I often take work home with me--especially the mental aspect.  There have been mornings that I wake up and can't go back to sleep because I am thinking about all the things I have to help clients do that day.  There is A LOT of responsibility in being a refugee resettlement worker.  When refugees first arrive into the country, they heavily depend on the KRM staff.  Any problem that arises--sick child, no food, lost trying to find their way home on the bus route, bedbugs, can't pay their rent, etc. results in a phone call for help.

Refugees have many obstacles to overcome in their first year of resettlement.  They are expected to learn the language and culture quickly, find a job within 3-6  months of their arrival, and become self-sufficient.  For most, this goal is achievable, but there are clients that come who aren't as well equipped to reach self-sufficiency.  A pregnant single moms with no English and no work experience with several small children is not going to find a job as easily as a young, strong single guy with good English and prior job experience.  During the school year, my position focused on helping clients to find employment, a sort-of job hunter.  This proved to be quite a challenging task given the current economic situation.  This summer I have added some hours and have taken on some case management.  Casework involves everything from airport reception, medical appointments, applying for social security cards, getting financial assistance, home visits, orientations, etc.  I really like doing case management, but it is more time demanding and doesn't fit well with a graduate school schedule.

This past week I was given a new case to manage--a family of four from the DRC (mom, dad, and two small children).  Most of the cases I took on this summer where older clients so this was only my second case to manage from the beginning.  I was excited to have a new case and wanted everything to go smoothly with their arrival.  Instead, here is what ensued.....

To be Continued!