2. 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

3. Refugee Health Materials/Resources “Resources & Materials for Refugees: A Must to Empower Populations”

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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”)

12. 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