IRIS Community Partners Interest Form

IRIS needs your help!

In January 2025 federal policies changed drastically, resulting in refugee resettlement agencies losing most federal funding, including IRIS. IRIS was forced to downsize, resulting in the loss of many staff positions and the office location IRIS had called home for decades. Operating with a reduced staff created huge challenges for ensuring the hundreds of recently arrived families served by IRIS continued to receive the assistance they needed. IRIS Community Partners (ICP) was launched to try to fill as many of those gaps as possible. Since February of 2025, more than 1,000 community members have stepped up to support IRIS's staff in implementing those Core Services and other operational functions.

The structure is simple. Volunteers chose teams to join based on their interest, experience, and willingness to learn. Once onboarded, they are sent individual tasks by the leader of the team(s) they have selected. Volunteers may accept or ignore these task requests as they are sent out. They receive guidance and support from Team Leaders, ICP's Admin Team, and IRIS staff as needed. Most tasks are in-person.

Connecticut is an incredibly welcoming community, and we are so grateful for your interest in being a part of the change you wish to see in the world!

Steps for joining this community effort:

1. Submit the Interest Form below.
2. *WATCH YOUR EMAIL* for instructions on completing a Commitment Form and a link to an orientation video.
3. After submitting the Commitment Form, *WATCH YOUR EMAIL* for detailed instructions from Sterling Volunteers on how to authorize a background check.
4. When your background check is approved, you are placed on your chosen team(s) and introduced to your team leader(s).

Name

Last Name/SurnameFirst Name

Email

example@example.com

Phone Number

Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.

In what city do you live?

You must be 18 or older to join ICP program teams. (If you are under 18, occasionally there are volunteer opportunities limited to specific educational programs at IRIS. By completing this form, you will be placed on our list of teens who wish to be notified when volunteer opportunities arise.) Please indicate if you are 18 or over.

Have you ever served on a Community Sponsorship resettlement team? (IRIS Co-sponsorship, Sponsor Circles, Welcome Corps)

Please Review the Core Services below and select your FIRST choice area of service. (The next question will allow you to select your second choice.) ** You will not be expected to do all tasks listed next to each area. Team leaders will receive single tasks which will then be offered to the team of volunteers, for one (or more) volunteer(s) to accept.

Please Review the Core Services below and select your second choice. If you want to focus on assisting only one team, you may choose that one for both your first and second choices.

I would also like to join ICP’s **FLEX Team!** I will consider assisting with miscellaneous tasks that fall outside the categories listed above. (Setting up at IRIS community events, office-related projects, or assisting clients with change of address submissions, energy assistance applications, transportation, bus orientations, etc.)

Do you FLUENTLY speak a language other than English?

IRIS Community Partners Interest Form

Interpretation/Translation

Additional Volunteer Information