Emmaus Community in Sonoma County

ACCOMPANIMENT PRINCIPLES

 

1. We walk WITH, and work WITH, our migrant families; they make their own decisions.

a. Accompaniment to help with adjustment, survival, and settling in.

b. Partnership for navigation of legal processes.

c. FIND SOLUTIONS by working together.

d. ADVOCACY for protection and fair treatment; public actions

e. LOVE is - a willingness to be present to others without pretense or guide; a willingness to participate with others in the healing of a broken world and broken lives.

f. Think about making your pairing - mutually transformational.

 

2. Concrete forms of support:

a. Economic - food, phone, rent, job opportunities.

b. Social - mentorship, companionship, emotional/psych needs, outings.

c. Education - medical, nutrition, life skills, ESL, “the system”.

d. Advocacy - accompany to medical care, court, consulate, landlord, calls/letters.

e. Legal - NEVER give legal advice, but help with access.

f. Housing - consider space in religious institutions/garages, or apartment that can be subsidized.

 

3. Members of the Accompaniment Team (4-5 total):

a. Point person

b. Spanish speaker

c. Someone available daytimes

d. Driver

e. “Money boundary” person

f. “Subjects of agency vs objects of rescue” person

g. “Keeper of Team Resource Folder” person

 

4. Building relationships:

a. Listen patiently

b. Introductions

c. Ice-breakers

d. Determine 2-3 most important early goals

e. Agree on best way to communicat

f. Determine where meetings will take place

 

5. Time commitments (over 6-12 months total):

a. First 3 months

i. 1-2 hours per week

ii. Research

iii. Monthly check-in with coordinator

iv. Consider information given as a “gift” of trust

b. Months 4-6+

i. 1-2 hours every other week

ii. Specific topic trainings for teams and migrants

iii. Monthly meetings of team, re: transition goals

iv. Monthly check-in with coordinator