Dallas Service Center

The RST Dallas office opened its doors in 1978 as the Dallas-Fort Worth Intra Agency, coordinating for refugee service providers and clients in the North Texas area. Officially changing its name in 2002 to Refugee Services of Texas, affiliations were formed with Church World Service and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service to resettle refugees in the Dallas area. Dallas is also the home of the Refugee Services of Texas Administration Office and Board of Directors.

Programs & Services in Dallas

Visit Our Programs page to learn more.

• Resettlement Services
• Job readiness training and placement
• English as a Second Language
• Legal Services
• Social Adjustment Services
• Refugee Cash Assistance
• Central American Minor Refugee Program Application (CAM-AOR)
• Medical Case Management

Volunteer with Us

Volunteer with RST Dallas to serve refugees, asylees, and survivors of trafficking in your community!

Please email the Dallas Community Engagement Coordinator at aklansek@rstx.org for more information on how you can currently serve our clients in the community!

Our TOP 5 volunteer opportunities:

• Mentorship: Be a first friend, cultural guide, and mentor to refugee individuals or families, by donating your time to visit a museum, a park, or just enjoy some lovely food! This is a great opportunity to involve your friends and family members!

• Transportation: Assist families and individuals with getting to and navigating important medical appointments, job interviews, and more!

• ESL Teacher: Provide long-term or substitute support for clients learning English, in-person or online*!
  *Days are negotiable if willing to teach online class, in-person teaching is limited to Mon through Wed 9 am-12 pm or Tues and Thurs 6:30-8:30 pm

• Apartment Setups: Shop for supplies and make an apartment a new home for an arriving refugee family!

• Airport Pickups: Welcome a new family at the airport and provide them with a warm meal on their first day in Dallas!

RST also has wonderful group volunteer opportunities, for more information on how your group can serve alongside us, please email our Community Engagement Coordinator at aklansek@rstx.org with Group Volunteer Opportunity in the subject line!

Volunteer Orientation and Trainings are held twice a month- see our full volunteer calendar and sign up HERE!

Co-Sponsorship

Co-sponsorship is a collaboration between the community, RST, and refugee families. As a co-sponsor, you will play an integral role in helping refugees become self-sufficient and get off to a strong start in their new home country. RST delegates the following resettlement tasks to your group: setting up an email account, setting up a bank account, grocery store orientation, school enrollment, bus orientation, and obtaining a driver’s license or state ID.

Becoming a co-sponsor with Refugee Services of Texas

1.     Read the Co-sponsorship requirements to determine your interest

2.     Apply and interview with the community engagement coordinator

3.     Attend Co-sponsorship Orientation and submit a background check

4.     Meet with family and begin core services!

 Submit an application HERE.

Co-Sponsor Goals and Objectives

• Form a Core Team of at least 5-10 people and designate 1 person to serve as a leader.

• Leader: serve as primary contact with RST, ensure that all group members have done background checks and attended co-sponsorship orientation

• Identify volunteer interpreters or enlist professional interpretation services that will be able to assist in communication as needed. RST will not be able to provide interpretation.

• Grocery Store Orientation - Core Service

  • Assist the family to locate and access grocery stores with healthy, nutritional, and culturally appropriate food options. 

• Digital Literacy - Core Service

  • Establish a form of communication for personal and professional correspondence

• Transportation - Core Service

  • Learn how to navigate public transportation (DART) in the neighborhood around the family’s residence

• Bank Account - Core Service

  • Establish money management tools

• Education - Core Service

  • Facilitate school enrollment for school-aged children

• Texas ID & Driver’s License - Core Service

  • Assist in establishing a form of US government ID

In-Kind Donations

Interested in giving in-kind donations to our Dallas office that go directly to the families we serve? Check out the list below for the most needed items for newly arrived families!

Donations accepted:

• Gift cards (Walmart or Visa)
• Bus passes (DART, 1 week or 1 month)
• Backpacks with school supplies (accepted year-round)
• Laptops/ Computers (working, with all parts, and Zoom capabilities! RST does not accept monitors by themselves)
• Baby/ Children’s items (pack n plays, high chairs, strollers, car seats [can’t be expired], lightly used toys, children’s books, baby clothing)
• Baby formula (not expired)
• Diapers and wipes- all sizes!
• First-aid kits
• NEW blankets and sheets
• Bikes and helmets (must have good tires), bike locks
• Hygiene items: toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, feminine hygiene items
• New pots/pans, utensils, cups, plates/bowls

Donations NOT accepted:

• Clothing
• Religious or seasonal items including Xmas trees and holiday decor.

Donations are accepted in our office Monday- Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. For any questions or additional information, please email the Dallas Community Engagement Coordinator at aklansek@rstx.org.

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