Refugee Health

Refugee Health Webinar Series

VMS held a webinar series on Refugee health. The goal of this series was to provide information to health care professionals to better serve and support Vermont’s refugee communities. Content was framed with a health equity lens that promoted culturally and linguistically appropriate health care screenings, services, and supports.

Recorded Sessions

• June 30, 2022 | "Cultural Considerations" presented by Tracy Dolan and Andrea Green, M.D.
  • View the Recording Here
• July 14, 2022 | "Strengths and Challenges of Refugee Resettlement in VT" presented by Amila Merdzanovic and Joe Wiah
  
  • View the Recording Here
• July 28, 2022 | "Domestic Health Assessment" presented by Andrea Green, M.D., 
  • View the Recording Here
• August 11, 2022 | "Blood Lead Screening and Management in Newly Resettled Pediatric Refugees" presented by Matt Saia, M.D.
  • View the Recording Here
• August 25, 2022 | "Medical Considerations in Providing Care to Adult Refugees" presented by Rochelle Paquette, FNP
  • View the Recording Here
• September 1, 2022 | "Providing Catch Up Immunizations/Ongoing Pediatric Care" presented by Stan Weinberger, M.D
  • View the Recording Here

• September 8, 2022 | "Hepatitis B Infections" presented by Laura Catoe, APRN
  • View the Recording Here

• September 22, 2022 | "Tuberculosis" presented by Heather Link, M.D.
  • View the Recording Here

• September 29, 2022 | "Using an Interpreter" presented by Cathy Kelley, LICSW and Stan Weinberger, M.D.
  • View the Recording Here

• October 13, 2022 | "Mental Health of Refugees" presented by Saida Abdi and Karen Fondacaro
  • View the Recording Here

• October 27, 2022 | "Social Work Considerations for New Americans" presented by Cathy Kelley, LICSW
  • View the Recording Here

• November 10, 2022 | "Medical Legal Partnerships" presented by Nathan Virag, Esq.,
  • View the Recording Here

Refugee Health Resources

Key Medical Resources

• CareRef : walks you through a new arrival medical exam
• CDC Refugee Health Guidelines
• CDC Guidance for Clinicians Caring for Individuals Recently Evacuated from Afghanistan
• Afghan Clinical Guidance Workgroup
• Brief Overview for Clinicians Caring for Afghan New Arrivals
• MN Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health: Clinical Care for Afghan New Arrivals

Additional Health Information

• Health Needs Assessment for Afghan Refugees of Summit County
• Tips for being Culturally and Trauma informed while assisting displaced Afghan families NCTSN
• Dec 2021 Update Alert: Interim Clinical Guidance for Providers Caring for Newcomers from Afghanistan

Mental Health Screening for Adults

• RHS15

Cultural Backgrounders

• Refugee Backgrounders: Afghans - scroll down for pdf on Afghans
• CORE Afghan Backgrounder
• ASPR TRACIE Technical Assistance Request

Educational Videos for Providers:

• Afghan Culture and Health Screening Considerations (YouTube)
• Webinar: Who are the Afghan Newcomers? Understanding the Background and Socio-cultural Strengths and Needs of Afghan Evacuees to the United States | Switchboard
• Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health Webinars: Afghan Humanitarian Arrivals
• Yale’s Health Care of Afghan Refugees Series : 3 part series including Emergency Care and Women’s Health

Additional helpful information

• Afghan Evacuees Health Resources
• Afghan Education Resource Repository
• #Afghan Evac : includes information on legal resources for pediatrics but useful info for adults too: https://downloads.aap.org/DCMO/Resources_Afghan_Arrivals_Final.pdf
• Group Prenatal Care Information

Translated Resource Materials: Dari and Pashto Translations

SAMHSA’s national coordinating offices on mental health.

Dari Translations

• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
• After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal
• Traumatic Separation and Refugee and Immigrant Children: Tips for Current Caregivers

Pashto Translations

• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
• After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal
• Traumatic Separation and Refugee and Immigrant Children: Tips for Current Caregivers

Resources for Refugees to the U.S.

• Communication Toolkit | Immigrant and Refugee Health | CDC
• CDC Resources in Languages Other than English

Pashto versions

• Welcome Booklet for Refugees
• Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• What you can do if you are at increased risk for COVID-19
• What you should know about COVID-19 to protect yourself and others
• 10 things you can do to manage your COVID-19 symptoms at home

Dari versions

• Welcome Booklet for Refugees
• Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• What you can do if you are at increased risk for COVID-19
• Prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick
• What you should know about COVID-19 to protect yourself and others
• 10 things you can do to manage your COVID-19 symptoms at home

English versions

• Welcome Booklet for Refugees
• Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• What you can do if you are at increased risk for COVID-19
• Prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick
• What you should know about COVID-19 to protect yourself and others
• 10 things you can do to manage your COVID-19 symptoms at home

COVID-19

• Is it COVID-19 of the Flu? English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• Snapshot of Vaccines English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Safety English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• COVID-19 Vaccines: What to Know English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• Common Worries and Facts English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• Getting Vaccinated English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• Is it COVID-19 or a Vaccine Reaction? English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• COVID-19 Vaccines: What Parents of Minors Should Know English (PDF); Dari (PDF);Pashto (PDF)
• You’ve Got Your Vax Card: Now What? English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• Getting Tested for COVID-19 English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Farsi (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• I tested positive - What will they ask me? English (PDF); Dari (PDF) ; Farsi (PDF) ;Pashto (PDF)
• I was in contact with someone who tested positive - What will they ask me? English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Farsi (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• What to do if you have confirmed or suspected COVID-19 English (PDF); Farsi (PDF)
• What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19 English (PDF); Farsi (PDF)
• NRC-RIM Welcome Video Describing Current COVID-19 Situation in US Dari; Pashto
• NRC-RIM COVID-19 Communication Resources for Afghan New Arrivals
• Multilingual Task Force YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3zjPpeFnXqvESr1y3d4DvQ/featured
• New American Resources Website www.NewAmericansInVermont.com
• Vermont Department of Health Resources https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/coronavirus-covid-19/resources

Handwashing

• CDC Wash Your Hands English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF); Urdu (PDF)

Masking

• CDC Please Wear a Mask English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF); Urdu (PDF)
• CDC How to Wear a Mask PSA English (Video); Dari (Video); Pashto (Video)

Tuberculosis

• CDC: Tuberculosis: General Information English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• CDC: Questions & Answers About Tuberculosis Booklet English (PDF); Dari (PDF);Pashto (PDF)
• FindTBResources.cdc.gov is your one-stop site to find TB educational materials for patients and providers.
• Cultural Quick Reference Guide: Afghanistan, from the Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center.
• What You Need to Know About Tuberculosis (Pashto), from the Heartland National Tuberculosis Center. Also available in Dari.
• The CDC Division of TB Elimination and the Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center offer additional TB patient education materials in Dari and Pashto, the two primary languages spoken in Afghanistan. These resources may be helpful as part of TB screening and follow-up of arrivals from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Welcome. The resources are available free of charge and can be downloaded online.

Lead

• Does Your Child Need a Lead Test? English (PDF); Dari (PDF)
• My Child's Lead Test Result English (PDF); Farsi (PDF)
• Prevent Lead Poisoning English (PDF); Pashto (PDF),
• Pregnancy and Lead English (PDF); Dari (PDF)
• Child Lead Poisoning Prevention (Videos) Dari; Farsi;
• Afghan Health Initiative – Lead Prevention Program and videos
• Additional resources: Lead Publications: Washington State Department of Health

Measles

• Measles Information English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• CDC: Report Your Symptoms of Measles English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• Additional Resources: Measles: Washington State Department of Health

Polio

• CDC: Report your polio symptoms English, Dari and Pashto (PDF)

Varicella (Chickenpox)

• CDC: Report your chickenpox symptoms English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)

Vaccine Information Statements (VIS)

• MMR vaccine English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• Polio vaccine English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)
• Varicella (Chickenpox) vaccine English (PDF); Dari (PDF); Pashto (PDF)

Multi-Language Refugee Reproductive Health Network (ReproNet) Resources

• ReproNet YouTube Channel:
  • See the presentation on Covid-19, the vaccine and reproductive health in: English, Pashto, DARI and Arabic;
• See health information video segments, recorded in collaboration with The Lighthouse, on our YouTube channel. The topics discussed consist of:
  • Puberty and Hygiene (English segment),
  • Reproductive Health in Refugee Women (Arabic segment),
  • Childbirth (Arabic),
  • Resources (Arabic),
  • Resources (English).
• You can also watch the full health segment

Domestic Health Assessment for Newly Arriving Refugees in Vermont

1. Newcomer Vaccinations: Newcomer Health ECHO, webinar slides
2. Vaccine Coverage Calculator: World Health Organization
3. CareRef demo Video
4. CareRef: Guides clinicians through conducting a routine post-arrival medical screening of a newly arrived refugee to the U.S.