Dear Friends and Family,
Hello!
I am excited and privileged to have the opportunity to work with students as they prepare their mind, hearts, and spirits for the Vincentian in Action Service Immersion experiences. We have spent the entire quarter building community and preparing to immerse ourselves for a week or 10 days in another reality. Students will spend the week serving, building community, learning, and delving deeper into faith, justice, and simplicity. I hope that you are excited for these students as they take a step out of their comfort zone in new ways. Thank you for your support of them emotionally, spiritually, and financially.
These trips have the potential to be eye-opening, transformative experiences. When students return they may look to you support in transitioning back to life at home or DePaul. You can look forward to some meaningful stories from these experiences. Taking the time to listen to their experiences is an important part of the transition back.
I imagine you might have some questions which is completely understandable! Please know we take many precautions to ensure your student's safety; it is our FIRST priority. We have a protocol established should something arise. We have students' insurance cards (if they have insurance) and emergency contact information should medical attention be needed or we need to reach the student's emergency contact. Staff mentors are on each immersion to accompany the students. Here are some more specifics the protocols we have set up.
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.
Gratefully,
Service Immersion Team
Contact University Ministry
(773) 325-7902
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
FAQ
When students arrive at domestic sites, they will have an opportunity to call home and confirm they arrived safely. Students on international immersions will have less access to make a call immediately upon arrival. The staff mentor will call the Division of Mission and Ministry (DMM), though we may not be able to call until the following day.
All student leaders or staff mentors will leave a message at the DMM Office (773) 325-7902 to make them aware of arrival at the site. We encourage you to call DMM if you would like to know if your student arrived safely.
After the first call, no news is good news from the international and domestic groups. Students on both international and domestic trips will not be allowed to make phone calls during the week.
If the emergency is during work hours (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) call the DMM office at (773) 325-7902 and ask for one of the on-call staff. If it is after hours or the weekend, please contact the appropriate staff person that is “on call” during the service immersion. The number for on-call staff is listed in the informational packet that we ask each student to share with their emergency contacts.
Try to contact us only in the case of an emergency.
We know that your child/friend/family member will be on your mind while they are away. To be present to the immersion experience, we only expect students to be in touch with family and friends in the case of an emergency. We do this to help the students immerse themselves in the experience and build community with other participants on their trip.
Flight information is included in the informational packet that we ask each student to share with their emergency contacts. You can also call the DMM office for more information on flight schedules.
International Immersions
We work closely with DePaul's International Programs Office for our international immersions. Students complete an online registration and also are registered with the US State Department. The community partners we work with are also committed to our students’ safety and wellness.
For more information about general HEALTY, SAFETY & SECURITY information about the immersion locations visit the Center for Disease Control & Prevention at the below website:
El Salvador: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/el-salvador.aspx
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact viatrips@depaul.edu.