Employment Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Refugee Women's Alliance

Starting Careers in Childcare

Posted on September 18, 2020September 24, 2020 by Joanne Walby

Congratulations to the 12 graduates of the Early Childhood Education Initial Certificate course who completed a year of academic studies in partnership with North Seattle College and attended the first ever graduation ceremony online on August 19^th.

Teachers presented students with their certificates at the graduation on Zoom in August 2020

Salwa is one of these graduates. Since completing ReWA’s ChildCare Basics training course last year, she found a job as an assistant teacher at a preschool in Kent.

“I love working with these children everyday, to be a part of their growing up,” she said.

Although she has her own growing family to manage at home, she continued with two more training courses and graduated in August with an Initial Certificate in Early Childhood Education.

ThiThi Gray, program coordinator said, “I am so proud of these students. Some of them really struggled in the beginning with going back to school, then moving classes online during the pandemic. But they pushed through. This wasn’t just a vocational training program—this is changing their own self-expectations. And it’s affecting all parts of their lives.”

Salwa is now a lead teacher at the preschool, and plans to continue her education in early Childhood Education at a local college. (She also got her driver’s license in 2020–well done, Salwa!)

Congratulations to all the 2019 Graduates!

Next Steps chart for students interested in Early Childhood Education certification

Preschool Teacher Training

Posted on March 2, 2020April 17, 2020 by Joanne Walby

Last month, ReWA’s Kent classroom was host to a dozen students proudly displaying their diploma in Child Care Basics, the first step in a career in early childhood education. Florence held her diploma and smiled, proudly. “I have 40 years of experience teaching, but without credentials it was difficult to get a job.”

ReWA program coordinator, Sara Cooley said, “Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and life experience: Sudan, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Central America. Some have raised their own families and are looking for a second career outside the home, and others are just starting careers.

Until last August, this meant they could complete the CCB class and work as an assistant teacher, but new state rules require assistant teachers to have high school diploma, GED and ECE Initial Certificate within five years of their hire date.

Starting January 2020, ReWA offers two courses to help students meet these requirements. For English Language Learners (ELL) level 2 students the 10-week STARS Child Care Basics course is the first step. They practice English, build ECE vocabulary, and learn about US work culture. It is also a pathway to I-BEST (Integrated Basic Education Skills and Training), a solid foundation for ELL students to pass the GED test and advance to college courses.

Cooley is enthusiastic about the new courses at ReWA. “By hosting classes in the Kent office, ReWA is bridging the gap between technical colleges and the clients who need them.”

She added, “Some of the students don’t picture themselves going to college—this new course includes the basics of filling out applications, paperwork, and field trips to college campuses, so they can feel comfortable on campus.”

Once students have completed Child Care Basics course and reached ESL level 3, they can enroll in the ECE Initial Certificate course, also taught at ReWA’s Kent office, in partnership with North Seattle College. After completion of the CCB and Initial ECE course, students have all the tools and certificates needed to advance in a career.

Just ask Florence: she now works as an assistant teacher in Auburn, and plans to enroll in the Initial Certificate course. “Working with young children is very challenging, but I enjoy it very much.”

Public Charge rule: Get the Facts

Posted on February 18, 2020April 17, 2020 by Joanne Walby

In late January, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) announced that the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) public charge rule would go into effect while legal challenges are heard in lower courts.

Most of ReWA clients are refugees and asylees and therefore exempt from the public charge rule. However, the steady stream of anti-immigrant policies from the Trump Administration have spread fear and uncertainty.

Their concern over being labeled a ‘public charge’ is reportedly causing parents to drop food or health care benefits for fear it would impact Green Card or citizenship applications for themselves or family members. For example, ReWA’s Basic Food program which provides food stamps for refugees who can then enroll in state-funded job training programs, has seen clients drop out. Even though the ‘public charge’ rule does not apply to refugees, case managers say many clients are afraid to take the risk.

A case manager reported, “I had a refugee client from Sudan who became homeless for a time. She needed support and job training to find a job in Seattle. But after the public charge ruling, she canceled her appointment to apply for job training because it came with food stamps.”

What can be done to help?

“Fear is the real danger here. Facts are our best defense. We tell our clients, ‘Talk to your lawyer and know the facts of your case before making any decision about applying for benefits.’

She went on to say, “Of course, we will help them find work, unofficially. One the one hand, our programs are funded by government grants and contracts, so future funding relies on enrollment numbers. But at the end of the day, we are in the business to help people—so that is what we will do.”

A green card changes everything

Posted on January 10, 2020August 16, 2022 by Joanne Walby

After four years of delay, “Abdi” (left) finally received his Green Card. Pictured with his ReWA attorney, Oksana Bilobran.

“Congratulations on receiving your Green Card!” “Abdi” had waited four years to hear these words, anxiously checking his mail box and repeatedly meeting with his ReWA immigration attorney, Oksana. Abdi and his family arrived from Somalia as refugees in 2014 and after one year he was eligible to apply for a Green Card. But a process that usually takes six months dragged on for four years as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made numerous document requests —far more than is normal, according to Oksana. Without a Green Card, Abdi had to renew his work permit each year, but sometimes it would expire while he waited for renewal. On more than one occasion these delays cost him his job, and with a growing family at home, many sleepless nights. Oksana said, “My job is to help ReWA clients navigate this process, push back when the agencies overstep their authority and to make sure our clients’ rights are protected.” Oksana successfully argued that the USCIS request was “overbroad and unreasonable” since the client already met the eligibility requirements according to the law. In the end, the USCIS dropped the case and issued the Green Cards for Abdi, his wife and children. Now, Abdi is master of his destiny. His grin says it all. Learn more about ReWA’s Citizenship Program.

New state rules for ECE training

Posted on January 9, 2020January 10, 2020 by Joanne Walby

Last month, ReWA’s Kent classroom was host to a dozen students proudly displaying their diploma in Child Care Basics, the first step in a career in early childhood education. Florence held her diploma and smiled proudly. “I have 40 years of experience teaching, but without credentials it was difficult to get a job.”

Cooley is enthusiastic about the new courses at ReWA. “By hosting classes in the Kent office, ReWA is bridging the gap between technical colleges and the clients who need them.”