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Upon landing in Cambodia returnees spend between a few hours to one week in an Immigration Housing Facility and will be met by RISC orientation personnel. The returnees will be informed about RISC, helped to relax and told about the steps that they will go through for the next few days.

Orientation Process:

• Meet returnee in the immigration housing facility.
• Case manager will meet with each returnee to complete an intake form in order to do the following:
• Investigate any medical issues that might need immediate attention.
• Verify if a returnee needs program sponsorship.
• Assist in locating returnee’s family and sponsor.
• Assistance orienting returnee’s family/sponsor in order to ensure a smooth release from the immigration housing facility.
• Provide information to returnees on the following issues:
• RISC services.
• Provide information to all returnees regarding what happens during the process time.
• Briefing on documents returnees will need prior to their release from the immigration facility.

  RISC will sponsor any returnee who does not have a sponsor.

After release from the Immigration Housing Facility, RISC provides sessions dealing with a wide variety of topics, i.e. Cambodian history and culture, current events, NGO activities,health care, and the legal system. This is a strictly voluntary service and will only be provided upon one’s interest/request.  

RISC has a humanitarian commitment to provide emergency medical assistance in cases of illness, injury or treatment for chronic conditions.

RISC believes that after the initial resettlement phase, defined as two years, most returnees will have achieved a degree of stability, i.e. employment, family, friends, etc. After that point medical support will only be continued for returnees determined by RISC to have “special needs”.

Accident Insurance
  Accident insurance will be provided. This policy only covers accidents, it will not cover suicide attempts,fights or incidents that occur while intoxicated or under the influence of illegal narcotic substances. Coverage is only for returnees who do not have another insurance policy, and who have been in Cambodia less than two years.

Medications for Illness
RISC will support the returnee to obtain, and if necessary, pay for medications that are related to a medical illness. In order to receive financial support for essential medications the following guidelines must be followed:

The returnee must sign-up for this service with a case manager and follow all recommendations:

• Obtain necessary check-ups and medical exams;
• Follow-up on all referrals to NGOs or medical agencies and follow their recommendations.
• The coverage is for returnees who have been in Cambodia less than two years. Except with "special needs" cases.

Returnee should contribute to the costs of medications if possible. RISC will utilize the services of relevant NGOs and governmental bodies to obtain necessary medical services and medications.

Cases of illness or accident not covered by insurance

RISC may pay medical expenses up to $200.00 per incident. In cases of illness (malaria, dengue fever, etc) the returnee must inform the case manager and follow all recommendations.

RISC helps returnees in preparing for and seeking employment; RISC does not provide jobs. RISC will refer returnees who meet the job description, demonstrate a strong desire to work and are sufficiently stable to be able to maintain the work schedule.

Employment support involves the following:

• Assisting with CV and cover letter preparation
• Complete application forms
• Providing volunteer ism and training placement
• Assisting in securing all necessary documents
• Mock/practice interviews

RISC will follow-up with both the employer and the employee (returnee) to evaluate the progress and if there are any problems that can be sorted out. This is a complete voluntary program. RISC aims to prepare returnees for full-time employment in Cambodia. It is important for returnees to demonstrate the following:

• An ability to perform the job
• A strong desire to work
• An ability to maintain the work schedule
• Good work ethic and attitude

Transitional Housing exists for returnees who have inadequate or no resources to help them get established in Cambodia, i.e., no family, no job, no funds or support from friends. This is a temporary placement and returnee’s stay will be time-limited based on a mutual contract between case management and the returnee.

In order to live in receive Transitional Housing services returnees must, sign a written contract where rules and consequences are clearly listed, participate in all tasks assigned by the case manager, and demonstrate that one is making progress toward independent living.

Human Rights Monitoring:

• RISC monitors conditions of returnees in detention in order to assure their rights are protected.
• RISC monitors legal proceedings involving returnees and assists them in understanding and participating fully in these proceedings.

Necessary Documentation:

• RISC assists returnees in understanding and securing routine documents required of all Cambodians (e.g. family book registration, ID card,birth and marriage certificates, vehicle registration, leases,contracts, etc.).
 
• RISC assists returnees in securing documents required for employment (erg. driver’s license, passport, etc.)
• In addition, since the majority of returnees lack the language and academic skills necessary RISC will also provide services with document evaluation upon request.

RISC does not pay legal expenses, fines or any related fees or gratuities.

Outreach service is intended to investigate the wellbeing of those who are living in the provinces, and follow up on those who have utilized program assistance; e.g. employment,scholarship, and housing, etc. Outreach service serves the following function:

• To verify a returnees’ living, employment and financial situation;
• To disseminate information about RISC services;
• To provide services to returnees living in the provinces (outside Phnom Penh);
• To provide orientation as necessary;
• To provide legal support as necessary

This provision is only for those who have arrived in Cambodia under a one year period, those determined to be special needs cases and those who utilize RISC assistance, i.e. employment, housing and scholarship grants.

RISC offers:

• Assistance with personal financial management.
• Teaching on how to manage money.
• Help with setting up a bank account.
• Grants and scholarships for education or certification, subject to staff discretion.

Withdrawal/Termination of Privileges
Successful integration into Cambodia will require changes in your life style, i.e. changes in dress, how one relates to women, food, attitudes, family life, etc. If you come from a background where drugs, weapons, criminal behavior and/or violence have been an integral part of your life – this must change. If you hope to make a healthy adjustment to a very different way of being in the world – Cambodian society – you must be conscious and intentional in making healthy choices. Failure to adjust (to accept your return to Cambodia) could produce serious problems in your life, i.e. drug and alcohol addiction, interpersonal relationships, poverty, chronic unemployment, homelessness and/or incarceration.

Many returnees believe that RISC exists to meet most of their physical and emotional needs, i.e. housing, employment and financial. A second belief is that returnees are entitled to permanent services and that these services must be tailored to their individual unique needs. A final belief is that drugs, alcohol and violence will be tolerated by RISC. This is absolutely wrong!

RISC reserves the right to choose not to work with returnees – or limit its support of returnees – who violate rules or choose not to cooperate.