Clusters are made up of representatives from several congregations in a given community that agree to work on a cooperative, interfaith process that offers clients community-based support. Participating congregations include: Lutheran, Episcopal, United Presbyterian, United Methodist, American Baptist, Roman Catholic, United Church of Christ, Unitarian, Baháʼí, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Muslim and the Society of Friends.
People seek asylum once their own government can no longer protect them from threats to their lives. When these displaced individuals arrive, they are free to begin their lives, but often lack the resources to effectively do so. RIM's clusters aim to give them the tools to become self-sustaining members of their communities.
All of RIM’s programs are steered by a professional Case Management plan. RIM works with clients to assess their needs and make appropriate referrals for legal
services and health care. RIM provides case management services to clients placed in Clusters.
RIM trains volunteers to provide ESL tutoring and computer classes for clients that are seeking employment or waiting for work authorization.
Volunteers are trained to tutor clients in English using the Direct Method. Most of the clients are residents of Malden.
RIM’s first program, composed of visiting immigrant detainees in the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Spiritual Care Givers are from many cultures, speak many languages, and go into the facilities to listen. By offering spiritual care in the detention facilities, those who have been forgotten and are isolated by language are shown that the community has not forgotten.
RIM has trained over 80 people to be Spiritual Care Givers. They see an average of 50 persons per month through their visitation in several New England facilities.
The training is offered annually and includes: active listening skills, prison culture, orientation to ICE, culture shock, trauma and legal issues. This training process has been shared across the country at the request of the Church World Service in Tuscan, Arizona, New York, New York, Miami, Florida, and Batavia, New York. Each volunteer is supported by monthly group supervision and individual debriefing.
The Spiritual Care Givers program has been selected by the Detention Watch Network to become the model for the country for this kind of volunteer chaplaincy program.
RIM has trained over 80 people to be Spiritual Care Givers. They see an average of 50 persons per month through their visitation in several New England facilities.