NEWS AND UPDATES JANUARY 2021

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Month Opening Doors' is committed to supporting survivors of human trafficking by providing intensive and comprehensive case management to males, females, minors, foreign and domestic nationals, and LGBTQ survivors. Staff are trained in trauma-informed care and take a client-centered approach that empowers survivors to become self-sufficient. "No one should have to live in a world where their freedom is taken from them, spending each day in fear and instability," says Opening Doors' Survivors of Human Trafficking Program Manager Carissa Theis. "If it weren’t for the work of agencies like Opening Doors, many individuals would still be living in their trauma, day after day, without any hope of getting the help they need to break free, find safety, and heal." In support of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Opening Doors would like share these resources from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network to help educate families and caregivers: The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provides parents and guardians with information on what child trafficking is and how to keep your children safe. Netsmartz provides age-appropriate videos and activities to help teach children be safer online with the goal of helping children to become more aware of potential online risks and empowering them to help prevent victimization by making safer choices on and offline. This valuable resource from Hope For Justice can help you learn to spot the signs of the most common kinds of human trafficking, such as trafficking for sexual exploitation and trafficking for the purposes of forced labor. If you or someone you know is the victim of human trafficking, please contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-788 or visit https://humantraffickinghotline.org/chat

Opening Doors' Fall 2020 Afghan Women's Wellness Program a success

In December 2020, Opening Doors just wrapped up its first Afghan Women's Wellness Cohort. The cohort was designed to address social isolation, destigmatize mental health, increase empowerment, and focus on wellness in all areas of life. 7 women successfully completed the program 3 women learned valuable job-seeking skills and found gainful employment 3 women applied for and received their driver's license, and 2 women received their learner's permit 1 woman referred to one-on-one counseling 1 woman enrolled in college  1 woman was empowered to advocate for her own medical care Opening Doors is pleased to announce that enrollment for the Spring 2021 cohort has doubled, expanding into two separate weekly groups. To learn more about the Afghan Women's Wellness program, please contact Health Programs Manager Hibatallah Hummadi. From Fall 2020 program participants: "This program gave me courage to talk about my insecurities in life and get the tools to help me be a better mother, wife and daughter." "I love my children and always want to be a better mom. This program helped me be that mom that I wanted to be. I recommend this program to not only Afghans, but for all refugees." "This has given me and my family access to helpful resources and services. Having a community of women was great."

Mark your calendars! Church World Service offering 6-week webinar series on Community Sponsorships The incoming administration has indicated that the number of refugee arrivals to the US will most likely return to historic norms; community sponsorships are an integral part of supporting the successful integration of refugee families in their new home country. What is community sponsorship? A community sponsorship is when a community group works together to welcome refugees by assisting in the process of resettlement and integration. These groups may be called co-sponsors, welcome teams or other names. Considering a Community Sponsorship with Opening Doors? Volunteering with refugee resettlement agencies like Opening Doors requires thoughtful engagement. This 6-week webinar series is designed to give an overview of the resettlement process and lay the groundwork for anyone interested in learning more about the role community plays in the work of welcome for refugees arriving to Sacramento in 2021. Read on to learn more about what will be covered in each session and to register:

Week 1: An Introduction to Community Sponsorship Join CWS Faith Community Organizers and RCUSA to explore the basics of refugee resettlement and the important role that community sponsorship plays in the integration of newly arrived refugees. This session will set the foundation for the following five sessions. REGISTER FOR WEEK 1 

Week 2: Orientation to Thoughtful Volunteering This session explores challenging issues related to welcoming refugees. Attendees will receive basic training on how to thoughtfully volunteer while considering topics of power, culture, paternalism, race, and socioeconomic status. Attendees will leave with resources for further group and individual education on important intersecting issues. REGISTER FOR WEEK 2 

Week 3: Organizing for Community Sponsorship Interested in becoming a community sponsor but not sure how to organize your team or how to prepare for the coming months? This session will equip those interested in community sponsorship to take the next step towards welcoming a refugee. REGISTER FOR WEEK 3 

Week 4: Welcoming During a Pandemic Amidst the unknowns of this past year, local communities remained committed to welcoming newcomers. As life moved, largely, from in-person to virtual engagements, how did community sponsorship and support of newly arrived refugees change? Join community sponsors and local resettlement agency staff to explore how they have welcomed during the Covid-19 pandemic. REGISTER FOR WEEK 4 

Week 5: Reflections on Resettlement Hear from a panel of community sponsors, refugees, and resettlement staff as they share best practices and tips based on their experience. What do they wish prospective volunteers/community sponsors knew before they welcome newcomers? REGISTER FOR WEEK 5 

Week 6: Creative Welcoming Initiatives Join this session to be inspired by the creative ways community members across the United States are providing welcome support to refugees. This session is meant to inspire, encourage, and generate new ideas as we work together to assist refugees in their integration into our communities.  REGISTER FOR WEEK 6 

To learn more about community sponsorships, please contact Opening Doors Community Engagement Manager, Julie Beckner. About Church World Service (CWS): Opening Doors works is an affiliate of Church World Service (CWS) to support refugees as they progress through their integration process: from their initial welcome to the Unites States, to self-reliance and ultimately to thriving.

Social Media Spotlight: Thank you for all that you helped accomplish in 2020! 

Are you following us on social media? Opening Doors is committed to increasing opportunities to inform and engage the community by focusing on who we are, what we do, and why we do it.  Click the icons below to follow us on your favorite social media channels:

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

OPENING DOORS | openingdoorsinc.org