SEARCH:
Promoting Good Health and Nutrition
Refugee and Immigrant Health Program
 |
Those who come from abroad to resettle in the U.S. come from countries in which the food, diet and health care systems can be quite different from those in the U.S. Establishing a healthy lifestyle and preventing illness in the U.S. can be difficult without a good understanding of how to adapt to American food and to readily access the U.S. health care system. USCRI educates and assists refugees and immigrants to adopt good habits that help them to prevent nutrition-related disease. USCRI also works with community-based organizations, public health officials, and local and national health policy-makers to help them recognize and address the particular barriers those newly arrived in the U.S. face in getting access to good health and health care.
USCRI’s Participation
Through two projects supported by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Healthy Refugees, Healthy Families, and Food and Nutrition Outreach launched in 2005, USCRI aims to foster newcomers’ healthy lifestyles and responsible use of health care and medical services. USCRI collaborates with ORR, the Office of Global Health Affairs, partner agencies, service providers, policy makers, and communities to strengthen national, regional and local collaboration in ensuring that refugees and immigrants have the information and access to care that they need to stay healthy and productive.
Partner Agencies’ Participation
USCRI trains and equips its partner agencies and other community-based organizations to provide refugees and immigrants with practical advice and instruction about nutrition and health. Through refugee orientation sessions, case management, English as a Second Language instruction, and special education classes, USCRI partner agencies educate clients about maintaining a healthy lifestyle in the U.S. Partner agencies also work to engage media, health-care providers, local leaders, school administrators, and employers in promoting good health and health care for refugees in their communities.
Communities’ Participation
The community’s participation is essential to helping newcomers achieve and maintain good health. Volunteers teach refugees to shop for and prepare nutritious meals. Teachers and school officials provide classes on nutrition and food in the U.S. Local health care facilities provide newcomers advice on getting access to health care. Medical professionals provide pro bono dental and medical services to refugees.
Clients’ Participation
USCRI clients participate by applying what they learn about preventing disease, eating well and maintaining good health habits, and by seeking treatment and care when they and their family members need it. They also serve as role models and teach others in their community about establishing and maintaining good health and health practice.