Refugee Health Program:Initiatives Towards the Wellbeing

of Refugees

Maria-Luisa Vallejo, MA, MEd. MPH

Rhode Island Department of Health

http:health.state.ri.gov

Refugee Health Materials/Resources

“Resources & Materials for Refugees: A Must to Empower Populations”

Refugee Health Materials/Resources

⇒ Refugee populations continue to increase & diversified

⇒ With this increase and diversification, new needs arrive in terms of materials

⇒ Target materials/resources are key to new populations

⇒ Material development experts face a challenge

Refugee Health Material/Resouces

⇨ Materials/resources are scattered throughout the USA either in Refugee Health Programs, VOLAGS, as well as

in NGO’s and other Institutions

Refugees Materials/Resources.

⇨ The need to create a “Clearing House” for materials/resources is the only viable solution to get a grasp of the resources in existence

⇨ Review of material to assess quality & appropriateness

⇨ Categorize/Catalogue materials/resources (by language, by category)

Refugees Health Materials/Resources

New Populations ⇒ Most materials/resources have been developed

for South East Asian & African population

⇒ As new incoming populations establish in the USA, the target audience for developing materials/resources differ

⇒ For example: Eastern European countries suffer different diseases than other populations

Refugee Health Materials/Resources

Refugee Materials/Resources

⇒ As new materials are developed, material developing experts should be knowledgeable of the culture/language of the target populations

⇒ Nonetheless, effective easy-to read print materials is key to all populations

Refugee Health Materials/Resources

⇒ Despite some newcomers’ literacy is higher than other populations, it is a fact that “health” is treated different in the USA

“⇒ Prevention” in the USA is one of our main concerns

⇒ In most countries the world “prevention” does not exist; in others people wait too long to be seen by a doctor to the point when there is no more hope for a cure

Refugee Health Material/Resources

Tips in Developing Materials

⇨ Present how-to information

⇨ Tell the reader the purpose of the piece

⇨ Use words familiar to the reader

⇨ Write clear, specific, direct sentences

⇨ Use concrete examples

⇨ Sequence ideas clearly

⇒ Use visuals

Refugee Health Materials/Resources

⇒ Materials developed by the RI Refugee Health Program:

“⇒ Your Health Book” (which will be translated in four major languages) “⇒ Refugee Health Providers’ Manual” “⇒ Fotonovelas” (a device created to bring health messages in the form of “soap operas”)

Refugee Health Materials/Resources

In concluding:

⇒ One access point for all refugee health material in existence (Clearing House)

⇒ Review of material from the various sources

⇒ Develop & design materials for new populations – according to their health needs-

⇒ Disseminate materials as needed