SAFRN??? What does this mean??

We in the Refugee Program would like to take some time to thank Erin Carkner who is leaving Catholic Charities to pursue her education. Erin was the Refugee Youth Advocate for the SAFRN, a collaborative program based in all three of Oregon’s resettlement agencies: Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW), Ecumenical Ministry’s SOAR (Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees) program and the Catholic Charities’ program. Erin’s last day with us was January 11^th  and with a large good bye party, we showed how much we’ve appreciated her work and how much we’ll miss her.

Erin Carkner is on the far left

SAFRN stands for “School Assistance for Refugee Newcomers.”  Funded by the federal government, the SAFRN program provides much-needed support to newly arrived refugee youth entering Portland’s school system.  Most of these students speak little or no English, and many have had no exposure to Western styles of education.  SAFRN also offers educational support to schools heavily impacted by new refugee arrivals.

Erin, like her colleagues in the other two resettlement agencies, carried a large caseload of new refugee students.  She worked with students throughout their first year in this country, helping register them for school, learn to ride the bus, understand what their teachers expected of them, and how to socialize with their peers.  She also organized parent workshops, and helped Portland teachers recognize and address the special challenges newly arrived refugee youth face.

Erin also started what is now an annual program: the Refugee Youth Summer School, where refugee students in first through fifth grade can practice their new English, math and reading skills, and newly arrived students discover what it means to attend an American school.

 Assimilation is a very difficult task for all our refugees. With SAFRN, the challenge becomes a little easier for refugee youth and their families. We extend our thanks to the collaborating agencies, and to you, our volunteers, who also help pave the way to a new life for refugee youth.