How EMBARC Responded to the COVID-19 Pandemic
On March 17, Governor Kim Reynolds issued a directive to Iowa AmeriCorps members to pivot to disaster relief and recovery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. EMBARC and its RISE AmeriCorps program shifted into crisis mode at once.
As a nonprofit founded by refugees, for refugees, the organization knew that immigrants and refugees across the state would be more vulnerable to both the health and economic consequences of the pandemic.
Immediately, we began to get the word out about the virus and recommended safety precautions in 13 different languages translated by RISE AmeriCorps members. Staff also began to respond to families affected by the pandemic, including those who lost jobs, faced eviction, needed food, struggled with virtual schooling, and required medical assistance.
Over the course of six months, EMBARC, RISE AmeriCorps, and 20 local agencies selected as host sites supported more than 8,000 refugees and immigrants in rural towns and major cities throughout Iowa. Ninety-five percent of them were essential workers.
“From the get-go, we knew EMBARC had an important role to play in responding to this pandemic. So many refugees and immigrants rely on us to help navigate the complexities on American life. With fear and anxiety on the rise everywhere, our clients immediately began contacting us with questions and concerns.”
According to the Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention, refugees are more vulnerable to the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Reasons include jobs in essential industries, lack of paid sick leave, multigenerational housing, reliance on public transportation, language barriers, and underlying medical conditions, among others. (Read more here).
By early April, EMBARC had established the Crisis Helpline and Virtual Access Center, which is run by a multi-ethnic team of refugee community members and RISE AmeriCorps members who collectively speak more than 25 languages and dialects. Over six months, the Helpline answered more than 3,000 unique calls. Nearly 50 percent of those involved holistic case management and follow-up support that sometimes required hundreds of hours of staff time.
“Many of the calls we received were just heart-breaking. Some called about family members who couldn’t breathe. Others worried about feeding their children or paying rent. A few had to make the hard choice between exposing themselves to the virus at work or losing much-needed income to support their families.”
Approximately 70 percent of callers reported being exposed to COVID-19. In dozens of cases, our staff called 9-1-1 for individuals and served as interpreters and health care navigators for the infected and their families over months of illness and recovery.
This spring, we also began producing videos in 10 languages to provide updates on the pandemic and share guidance on important resources. The organization created more than 600 videos, which reached 27,000 unique individuals. For many, these updates were their sole source of news in their native language.
Additionally, EMBARC staff and RISE AmeriCorps members distributed food to nearly 4,500 people and helped more than 70 families set up virtual learning and communicate with schools.
A critical component of our response to the pandemic were the 99 RISE AmeriCorps members serving in 2020. A program launched by EMBARC in 2015, RISE AmeriCorps trains emerging leaders in refugee and immigrant communities to connect with, support, and empower fellow refugees.
RISE AmeriCorps is the only statewide program positioned to support refugee essential workers with critical services and basic needs. Pivoting from job training efforts to disaster response, RISE members provided information and navigation to thousands—helping them file for unemployment, get COVID-19 tests, obtain personal protective equipment, access food, and more. Overall, they provided 4,000 services and delivered 20,000 meals.
“I am so proud of the EMBARC staff and our RISE members. Many gave up their free time to answer calls and assist clients, often at the expense of their own physical and mental health. A large percentage of our staff, and three-quarters of RISE members, come from refugee and immigrants communities themselves. This work is very personal for them.”
With COVID-19 currently raging across Iowa and unemployment claims rising, our staff continue to support refugee and immigrant families across the state. We will keep responding to those in crisis until the pandemic is over.
Learn more in our full COVID-19 Impact Report, released in December 2020.
To help us continue the critical work of responding to families affected by the pandemic, consider a monthly gift to EMBARC.