Family Services
Hello Neighbor directly supports refugee and immigrant families to achieve self-sufficiency, build confidence, and feel welcome in their communities.
Mentorship
Welcoming our new neighbors by matching recently resettled refugee and immigrant families with caring neighbors to guide and support them in their new lives.
Since 2017, we’ve seen over 150 families from more than 20 countries go through our Mentorship Program.
Hello Neighbor was founded with Mentorship at our core because we believe that one-on-one relationships are key to creating a welcoming community and a better country.
Mentors are strategically matched with recently resettled refugees and newly arrived immigrant families and individuals based on a variety of factors including geographic proximity, family composition, availability, and interest areas. Mentor and mentee matches decide what they want to do together, with activities ranging from playing at the local park, to attending Hello Neighbor events, to helping mentee families read mail and teaching them to write a check.
Mentors and mentees have 2-4 meaningful visits each month during the 8 month program. Many stay active long after the initial time commitment, developing into lifelong friendships. We also host events to give families the opportunity to connect, make friends, and explore Pittsburgh together.
Mentors receive training on refugee and immigrant issues, and guided support throughout the program. Our program orientation includes an up-to-date workbook full of resources and tools that help mentors confidently connect with and help their mentee families. Dedicated program staff are available to help navigate challenges, and each mentor family is matched with an experienced Hello Neighbor mentor to answer questions and offer advice.
Refugee and immigrant families involved in our program report feeling more confident and having an increased sense of belonging. By spending just a few hours a couple times a month you can meet your new neighbors, help them achieve success in this new chapter of their lives and transform Pittsburgh into a more welcoming city for all.
Interested in becoming a mentor?
Applications for our Cohort 8 (October 2023 - May 2024) are now closed.
Study Buddy
Virtual tutoring and educational support for English language learners in middle and high school throughout the City of Pittsburgh.
Since Study Buddy’s start in 2020, we’ve had over 165 students receive more than 3,000 hours of tutoring per semester.
Since 2020, Hello Neighbor has been supporting refugee and immigrant youth in school districts across Allegheny County to navigate the United States education system through personalized online one-on-one tutoring. Current students, recent graduates, and young professionals are matched with refugee and immigrant students in grades 6-12 to help them navigate remote learning, stay motivated to attend class and do their work, and empower them to build relationships with peers and school staff. Volunteer tutors help students with school work, provide subject-specific learning, set up tangible semester-specific goals, increase their confidence in the classroom, and develop their English language and interpersonal skills.
Each semester, the Study Buddy program welcomes guest speakers from local partners, provides students with training relevant to academic development, and in-person events aimed at team building.
The core commitment is by semester (Fall, Spring) and 1-3 virtual hours of tutoring per week.
Interested in becoming a tutor or a Study Buddy student?
Our Study Buddy program runs on an academic calendar, with Fall and Spring semesters. We are always accepting new tutor applications. However, most enrollments will be completed during the summer and winter breaks.
Smart Start
Smart Start is there for immigrant and refugee parents with culturally-tailored support throughout their birthing journey.
Since 2017 , we’ve assisted in welcoming 101 beautiful babies into our families–many the first American Citizens in their family!
Smart Start was created and evolved to serve at the intersection of birth support and refugee resettlement in order to meet the unique perinatal needs of refugees and immigrants in the Pittsburgh area. Moving to a new country comes with challenges. In the U.S., birth culture can look and be very different from our families’ home cultures and birthing practices. It can be isolating, overwhelming, and/or confusing being pregnant in a foreign land. Compounding the difference are language barriers and separation from one’s culture and family can further contribute to feelings of isolation during pregnancy and postpartum.
Smart Start's primary services provided are:
- Pregnancy and newborn care coordination, postpartum support, pregnancy and/or infant loss support as needed
- Facilitating connections to community resources and support items needs for mom and baby
- Working with the birthing person to create a comprehensive labor plan including planning for a doula, childcare, documentation preparation, and discharge assistance
- Culturally-tailored perinatal education regardless of language capacity
Interested in becoming a Smart Start Volunteer?
Please register for one of our virtual or in-person information sessions.
To refer a pregnant refugee or immigrant:
Please email Abby Jo Perez, Refugee Health and Stabilization Supervisor, with the birthing person’s name, language, and contact info.
Email: abbyjo@helloneighbor.io