Utah refugee health PRogram - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Utah refugee health PRogram

Refugee Resettlement 101Slide2

Purpose of Presentation

To provide information about how a person becomes a refugee, how refugee resettlement to the United States happens, and information about resettlement to Utah.

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide3

Definition of a refugee

A refugee is someone who:

has been

forced to flee their country

because of persecution, war, or violence

is

recognized as having a a well-founded fear of persecution

for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social groupis protected under international law; individuals with refugee status must not be expelled or returned to situations where their life and freedom are at risk

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide4

Role of UNHCR

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

(UNHCR) has the mandate to protect and assist most refugees worldwide.

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide5

Durable Solutions

UNHCR works to identify durable solutions

for refugees who have been displaced from their homes; these solutions include:

Safe return to their home country

Integration within the host community

Resettlement to a third country

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide6

Resettlement

Less than 1% of the world’s 20+ million refugees are ever resettled and the U.S. is one of more than 30 countries that accepts refugees for resettlement.

Since 1975, the

U.S.

has resettled more than

3 million people

.

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide7

Refugee Resettlement to the United States

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide8

History of U.Ss

Refugee Resettlement

After World War II 250,000 displaced Europeans were welcomed to the

U.S.

1948-

Th

e

Displaced Persons Act provided for the admission of an additional 400,000 displaced Europeans to the U.S.1975- The U.S. resettled many thousands of Southeast Asian refugees through an ad hoc Refugee Task Force.1980-

The Refugee

Act passed and standardized federally-supported resettlement services for all refugees admitted to the

U.S.

providing a basis for today’s Refugee Admissions program.

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide9

US Refugee Resettlement Program

The U.S.

Refugee Resettlement Program is a worldwide

public-private partnership

involving:

multiple federal agencies

international organizations

non-governmental organizationsstate/local government communitiesprivate citizens and other stakeholders Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide10

US Refugee Resettlement Program

The

State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM)

manages the

U.S.

Refugee Resettlement Program through contracts with

9 overseas Resettlement Support Centers (RSCs) and 9 national Resettlement

Agencies.

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide11

Resettlement Support Centers

Resettlement Support Centers (RSCs) are:funded by PRM

responsible for the accurate overseas processing of refugees referred to the

U.S.

Refugee Admissions Program

and who are approved for resettlement by

U.S.

Citizenship and Immigration Services Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide12

Resettlement Support Centers

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide13

Resettlement Agencies

Resettlement Agencies, also known as Voluntary Agencies (Volags

) are:

non-governmental organizations

contracted with PRM to provide services for refugees when they arrive to the

U.S.

through the Reception and Placement (R&P) Program Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide14

Resettlement Agencies

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide15

Resettlement Agency Sites

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide16

US Refugee Resettlement Program

Based on PRM recommendations, the

President, in consultation with Congress, determines the

authorized target for refugee admissions

each year

.

Admissions are determined by region:AfricaEast AsiaEurope and Central AsiaLatin America/CaribbeanNear East/South Asia

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide17

Refugee Resettlement Process

Eligible refugees are:

Referred by

UNCHR, U.S. Embassy, or NGO

Complete overseas processing through a RSC including a cultural orientation, medical screening,

multiple security background checks

and interviews

Provided a loan for the cost of their travel to the US by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) who coordinates travelAssisted by a resettlement agency upon their arrival to the

U.S.

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide18

U.S. Refugee Reception & Placement Program

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide19

Reception & Placement (R & P) Program

PRM partners with the 9 national resettlement agencies to help place refugees throughout the

U.S

.

R

esettlement agencies provide basic necessities and core services to refugees during their

first 30-90 days in the

U.S. The goal of the program is economic self –sufficiency as soon as possible after arrival. Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide20

Support Refugees Receive after Resettlement

As part of the R & P Program resettlement agencies are responsible for

meeting the basic needs of refugees including

:

Decent, safe, sanitary, affordable housing

Essential home furnishings

Food and food allowance

Seasonally appropriate clothingUtah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide21

Support Refugee Receive after Resettlement Cont.

As part of the R & P Program resettlement agencies

also are

responsible for

assisting refugees in navigating

U.S.

systems

to: Apply for a social security cardApply for public benefitsFind employmentRegister children for schoolComplete required health screening and access follow-up care

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide22

Refugee resettlement To Utah

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide23

Refugee Arrivals to Utah

There are an estimated 60,000 people of refugee backgrounds

speaking 40+ languages.

There are approximately

1,200 new refugee arrivals each year.

All are resettled initially in Salt Lake County by either

International Rescue Committee or Catholic Community Services. The Utah

Refugee Services

Office

is the state agency responsible for Utah’s overall refugee program

.

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide24

State Refugee Coordinator

Gerald Brown, State Refugee Coordinator

Works at

Refugee Services Office

(RSO) at the Department of Workforce

Services

R

epresents Utah at the national levelDirects work that focuses on broad initiatives around refugee integration and capacity building

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide25

State Refugee Health Coordinator

Amelia Self, State Refugee Health Coordinator

Manages the

Refugee Health Program

(RHP) at the Utah Department of

Health

Represents Utah at the national level

Directs work that focuses on creating community health partnerships for culturally and linguistically appropriate health screening, education, and referrals Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide26

Resettlement Agencies in Utah

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide27

Resettlement Agencies in Utah

Resettlement agencies in Utah:

Provide R & P services during the first 30-90 days after arrival

Provide home, safety, and cultural orientations to assist refugees in adapting to life in Utah

Provide case management services for refugees for up to 2 years after arrival

Assist with overall community integration

Offer specialized programs addressing specific issues or needs (

i.e youth afterschool programs)Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide28

Refugee Mental Health providers

Specifically serves

refugees

who are torture survivors

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide29

Local Refugee-Related Organizations

Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office for New Americans

Focused on connecting New Americans to resources to help them thrive and feel welcome.

Refugee Education and Training Center

Focused on fostering opportunities to help refugees access higher education and training programs needed for better paying jobs that will support their families.

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide30

Federal Refugee-Related Organizations

Office of Refugee Resettlement

Helps new populations maximize their potential in the

U.S.

by linking them to critical resources that assist them in becoming integrated members of American society.

CDC Immigrant, Refugee and Migrant Health Branch

Provides guidelines for disease screening and treatment, tracks and reports diseases, advises

U.S. partners on health care for refugee groups, and educates and communicates with refugee groups and partners.

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide31

New Utahns

R

efugees arrive to the

U.S.

with the legal right to work and build new lives

and

are

eligible to become citizens after 5 years. Utah has and continues to be a welcoming state where refugees are supported as they move from being a refugee to a Utahn and contribute in many meaningful ways to the Beehive State!

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide32

Acknowledgements

Some material included in this presentation was taken from slides from these presentations:

Refugee Council USA for members of SCORR and ARHC, June 24, 2015

Office of Refugee Admissions for North Carolina State Refugee Conference, August 20, 2013

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017Slide33

Utah Refugee Health Program Contact Information

rhprogram@utah.gov

801-538-6221

http://health.utah.gov/epi/healthypeople/refugee

/

Utah Department of Health, Refugee Health Program April 2017