From Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas
In a display of community support and solidarity, Stafford County Economic Development has co-sponsored a refugee family from Venezuela, giving them a new home and a fresh start in Southwest Kansas. This initiative, led by Ryan Russell, executive director of Stafford County Economic Development, and facilitated by Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, exemplifies the profound impact co-sponsorship can have on both refugee families and the communities that welcome them.
A New Beginning
Mario Ariza Chamorro, his wife Maylyn Chirinos Damas, and their two daughters, Ivanna (11) and Bianca (4), arrived in Stafford County just two weeks ago. Their journey to Kansas began about six months ago when Ryan Russell reached out to Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, expressing interest in sponsoring a refugee family. Stafford County, like many rural areas, has been seeking creative ways to grow its population and strengthen its community.
"We're really a welcoming community," Ryan explained. "We have great people, but we have a shortage of people in our county. We're trying to reverse that trend by building houses and engaging in economic activities. We thought immigrant placement programs could be a great way to bring new families into our county, increasing the number of children in our schools and workers in our community.”
The Selection Process
Marci Smith, Director of Family Services at Catholic Charities, oversees the Immigration and Refugee Resettlement Program and played a crucial role in selecting the right family for Stafford County. “Ryan and his team were looking for a young family with children who could integrate quickly into the community,” Marci said. “They believed that a Spanish-speaking family would fit in well, given the existing Hispanic community in Stafford County.”
Ryan's previous experiences and connections helped him understand the importance of such programs. "I had friends who sponsored families from Myanmar, and I lived in Myanmar for ten years," he shared. "I knew that families with children would integrate faster and have multiple touchpoints with the community through schools and extracurricular activities.”
Swift Action and Community Support
When Marci informed Ryan that the Ariza-Chirinos family would arrive in just three days, the community sprang into action. "I'm a bit of a risk-taker," Ryan admitted. "I wanted to see if we could get things done to do this." "They really stepped up," said Marci. "They arranged for housing, secured job opportunities, and mobilized the community to provide support.”
The community's response was overwhelming. The one hotel in the county provided immediate housing. There was a newly built three-bedroom, two-bath house in Macksville that had been finished in August. "I called and talked to Housing Opportunities Inc, our partner organization that works with us to manage the houses: 'Hey, is this possible to do this?' 'Well, we need these things to be able to make it happen.' 'Okay, I can do that.' These conversations gave me confidence that we could do it pretty easily," Ryan said. Rachel Sandoval, a local English teacher, provided translation services. Juan, a volunteer from Macksville, helped pick up the family from Dodge City. Zenia Gonzalez provided translation and cultural training. The local ministerial alliance donated gift cards for groceries. Several families donated furniture and The Second Chances Thrift Store gave a lot of furniture as well.
A Warm Welcome
The family was welcomed with open arms. "By the first weekend, they were already attending mass and meeting people at church," Marci noted. "This immediate sense of community helps people feel like they belong and encourages them to stay.”
Ryan echoed this sentiment as he recalled an incident with the library in Stafford. "I basically just gave them a heads up and said, 'Hey, I'm gonna be bringing this family over. They don't speak any English and so could you give them a schedule for activities?' They took it on themselves to bring a Spanish speaker in to explain the summer program. They did a great job. All three towns have been really open and welcoming to them, and it's been really nice.”
Ongoing Support and Future Plans
Stafford County's commitment to the family extends beyond the initial 90 days of co-sponsorship. "We've lined up driving lessons for Mario and Maylyn, and the girls are ready to start school," Ryan said. "The community is excited to have them, and there's a strong support network in place. We're also working on getting them into more English classes.”
The success of this initiative has inspired Ryan to advocate for similar programs in other rural communities. "More communities should do this," he emphasized. "There are so many towns in central and western Kansas that need people. This is a no-brainer for communities looking to grow their population and support families in need.”
Understanding Co-Sponsorship
Co-sponsorship involves a community or organization committing to support the integration and resettlement of a refugee family. This includes arranging housing, securing job opportunities, and providing necessary services before and after the family's arrival. The goal is to ensure that the family feels welcomed and supported as they adjust to their new life.
Marci highlighted the benefits of co-sponsorship: "The families tend to be much more vested in their community. They don't want to leave because they feel welcomed. They get involved right away in community activities.”
Additionally, co-sponsorship provides better services for the families. "We are stretched pretty thin, so we often have to say, ‘We can only do this one day a week.’ But with co-sponsorship, the family has their own group that is just there for them as they need them," Marci explained. "They get better services and feel more connected and involved.”
How to Get Involved
Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas works closely with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Kansas Office of Refugees to facilitate the resettlement process. Communities or organizations interested in co-sponsoring a refugee family should:
- Express Interest: Reach out to Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas or a similar resettlement agency to express your interest in co-sponsoring a refugee family.
- Assessment and Matching: Work with the agency to find a suitable family, considering the community's capacity and the family's needs.
- Preparation: Arrange housing, employment opportunities, and necessary services before the family's arrival.
- Arrival and Orientation: Welcome the family, provide initial orientation, and help them understand their new environment.
- Ongoing Support: Offer continuous support in areas such as education, healthcare, language classes, and community integration.
- Community Involvement: Engage the local community to provide a network of support and resources.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Ensure that the family feels respected and their cultural background is honored.
- Financial Responsibility: Possibly provide financial support for housing, living expenses, and other essentials until the family becomes self-sufficient.
"We plan on communicating our success story to other economic development professionals to encourage them to consider co-sponsorship," Ryan said. "I think a lot of towns would be very happy to take immigrants, especially ones with kids. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
For more information on how to get involved with the Refugee Resettlement Program, please contact Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas. Together, we can create a world where every person experiences hope and fulfill