Materials for New Populations Colleen Mahar-Piersma November 17, 2008 Refugee Health Information Network Symposium
1 Funded by the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration to: Research, develop and disseminate resources about refugee training and resettlement; Provide technical assistance to refugee service providers regarding refugees’ native cultures, languages and orientation needs; and Develop a globally linked network to exchange refugee orientation information, concerns, and best practices. Cultural Orientation Resource Center at CAL
2 Research, develop and disseminate resources about refugee training and resettlement Welcome to the United States: Guidebook for Refugees Health Section: pp And Welcome video: Overseas Service Provider Toolkit: Health lessons: two Domestic Service Provider Toolkit Health lessons: four Cultural Orientation for Refugees: A Handbook for U.S. Trainers Health lessons: three
3 TA to service providers re: refugees’ cultures, languages, and orientation needs Refugee Backgrounders (Basic and Enhanced) and Culture Profiles Refugees from Iraq: coming soon Refugees from Burma: Overseas CO Program Highlight Most recent (currently Iranians in Vienna, Bhutanese in Nepal coming soon): Archive (West Africa, East Africa, Iraq, Burma, Burundi:
4 Develop network to exchange refugee orientation information, concerns, and best practices. Refugee Discussion electronic discussion group −Membership limited to Overseas Processing Entity staff, overseas CO providers, and staff of agencies providing direct services to refugees in the U.S. −Members include State Health Coordinators, State Refugee Coordinators, overseas CO providers, domestic resettlement staff, school liaisons, police liaisons, etc. −Archive available so members can view previous postings −Over 900 members Presentations, workshops, etc. Personal contacts to submit resources, information, questions, etc.
5 Cultural Orientation Resource Center, Center for Applied Linguistics COR Center Publications: Welcome to the United States (book and video) Refugee Backgrounders Refugee Culture Profiles (Available for download or purchase on the COR Center Web site, at COR Center Web site: for curricula/lesson plans, information on overseas CO programs, etc. Refugee Discussion discussion group: write to join Call for information: