CWS Dallas Volunteer Orientation

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us!

Becoming a CWS Dallas volunteer includes five steps:

Watch the volunteer orientation and pass the comprehension quiz so we know we’re all on the same page when you sign up for an event.
Fill out our volunteer intake form so we know how to contact you.
Sign our volunteer policies via Docusign.
Complete a background check via Sterling Volunteers.
Wait for an approval email from CWS Dallas Volunteer Coordinators – once you’ve been approved, we’ll add you to our event sign up platform, Point, so you can get started!

To get started, scroll down to first watch our Volunteer Orientation video and pass the short comprehension quiz. Once you pass the quiz, you’ll receive information on the next steps.

Thanks for watching, we hope you learned something new! Please answer the following questions based on what you just watched. You must get at least 14 out of 15 correct to move on to your application.

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

When was CWS founded?(Required)

1927

After WWI

1962

After WWII

What is CWS’s vision?(Required)

A world where everyone has food, voice, and a place to call home.

A world where the US welcomes as many refugees as possible

A world where everyone serves in the church

A world where there are no wars

What makes someone a refugee?(Required)

They moved from one country to another

They were granted legal status proving they fled their country and are unable to return due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on a protected identity

Their home country is at war

They are asking for protection from the US

True or False: Refugees are screened more thoroughly than any other type of entrant to the US(Required)

True

False

Who is involved in the refugee admissions process to the US?(Required)

UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)

USCIS (United States Center for Immigration Services)

IOM (International Organization for Migration)

FBI

Department of Homeland Security

State Department

All of the Above

The Reception and Placement program (R&P) is how long?(Required)

90 days from date of arrival in the US

6 months from arrival in US

6 months from when travel is scheduled

1 year from when travel is scheduled

What services are provided during R&P?(Required)

Safe housing and home supplies

School Enrollment

Medical Screenings

Referral to employment, English language training, and further cash assistance

All of the above and more

When working with clients, what is something that should always be prioritized?(Required)

Teaching them English so they can understand you better

Encouraging the client to do as much as they can for themselves to support them to be self-sufficient

Speaking loudly so you’re understood

Doing as much as possible for the client since they’re new to the US

What is an example of helping a client with self-sufficiency?(Required)

Stocking the pantry so the family doesn’t have to go to the grocery store for a while

Dropping a family off at the grocery store to figure it out themselves

Teaching a family how to get to the grocery store and walk with them as they find what they need, answering questions along the way

Taking a family to the grocery store and filling up the cart and purchasing the items for them

What might be examples of areas to have boundaries when working with CWS staff and clients?(Required)

Time and energy

Money, donations, gifts

Communication tone and frequency

Cultural sensitivities, faith, gender roles

All of the above

Who should you call if you can’t reach CWS Volunteer Coordinator when you have an urgent need?(Required)

911

The client’s Case Manager

Mark Hagar, Site Director

Don’t call anyone, wait until the volunteer coordinator responds

Which of the following is allowable while volunteering with CWS Dallas?(Required)

Sharing client information with my family, friends and/or social group

Driving a client and their child without a car seat because the client didn’t want to use it

Giving a client money without talking to CWS staff

Inviting the client to my church service

None of the above are allowed

If a client tells you they can’t reach their case worker and they have an urgent need, what do you do?(Required)

Try to handle the need yourself

Encourage the client to leave a message with the case manager and follow up with your volunteer coordinator

Call the case manager for the client

Emphasize the client’s complaint and tell them how case managers are always too busy

You went above and beyond for a client outside of what you were asked as a volunteer, what do you do?(Required)

Keep it a secret from CWS volunteer coordinators so you don’t get in trouble

Don’t do that, it’s not allowed

Tell CWS volunteer coordinators so they can track any extra time, mileage and donations you provided to the client

Nothing

What are the rest of the steps in becoming a volunteer with CWS Dallas?(Required)

Intake form so CWS can know how to contact you

Sign CWS volunteer policies

Fill out a Background Check with Sterling Volunteers

Wait for CWS staff to email you that you’ve been approved to volunteer and can sign up for events via our Point app

All of the above