Valeri Mihanovich
Mask Up! Protect others. This is our “vaccine” for now.
Emergency Services Coordinator/Voluntary Agency Liaison
Cal OES, Individual Assistance Division
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The California Department of Social Services – Disaster Services Branch is currently in San Diego providing coordination and technical assistance for our Immigration Integration Branch along with Jewish Family Services (JFS), who is currently leading the humanitarian effort to support the Migrant Protection Program (MPP) population.
With plans of increasing the number of asylum seekers we are WELCOMING for these individuals and continuing our coordinated released to support other asylum seekers being released, we need your help.
Please see below for (3) volunteer roles we have at this moment in time. See attached flyer for a comprehensive overview.
Volunteers are the heart of our work – and we need your help.
All positions will require you to adhere to our COVID-19 protocols for the safety of our clients, staff, and other volunteers.
Shelter Courier – IMMEDIATE NEED
Help us pack and deliver meal and hygiene kits! Shelter Couriers are responsible for putting together bags of hygiene items, food, and other supplies at our home base and delivering them outside hotel doors (contactless) to ensure that families get the resources they need while in our care.
On-Call Airport/Greyhound Guide
Help families navigate the ins and outs of transportation by serving as a guide! Guides are responsible for picking up families from their respective hotels, helping them print their boarding tickets, and escorting families through the airport or greyhound station until they are at their boarding gate. Positions available 7 days a week!
On-Call Medical Advocate
In this role, volunteers help drive family members to their medical appointments and provide a follow-up report to the shelter manager with any updates or future appointments made. Due to COVID, volunteers need to remain in their vehicle during the appointment or provide a phone number for nurses to call when the appointment is complete. As an advocate, you have the opportunity to ensure that families are treated with dignity and respect while navigating the medical system and serve as a reminder that they are not alone.
Ready to get started? Please create a profile on our volunteer database, Galaxy Digital, and email sheltervolunteer@jfssd.
A few updates from the program:
- As of today we have WELCOMED 317 asylum seekers through MPP processing.
- Over the past week our numbers varied between 20-50 individuals per day for MPP processing.
- We have plans to double these numbers by mid-late next week.
- This past Thursday we have transferred to a State of CA supported operation with use of State funded non-congregate hotel sites for the quarantine period.
- MPP asylum seekers will be tested upon arrival at the Port of Entry by the amazing UCSD health team. Individuals and families that test negative will then be transported to out hotels
- JFS/SDRRN will continue to transport the asylum seekers to the hotel sites where case management, medical care, travel coordination, legal support, and more will begin and be provided during the quarantine period.
- Once cleared by public health and the UCSD health team, JFS/SDRRN will assist asylum seekers with intending to leave outside San Diego will be assisted to travel to their final destinations.
- Any individual or family without a final destination will be referred over to our amazing partners locally for support: Safe Harbors Network, Catholic Charities, and IRC for shelter and case management assistance.
- JFS continues to receive and support folks crossing between ports of entry (EWI) and others being processed through the port of entry (non-MPP) in larger numbers as well.
