Welcome to the Ninth Annual
LPH/VOLAG Forum
Refugee and International Health Program
Vision
Optimal health for refugees and
immigrants achieved through
innovative leadership and strong
partnerships
Mission Statements
Refugee Health
Program
International Health
Program
Promote and enhance
the health and wellbeing of refugees
Advance effective
community health
practices with
refugees, immigrants,
and LEP persons
Refugee Health Program Activities

Ensuring timely health assessment, treatment and referral for
all new refugee arrivals to the state

Conducting disease surveillance and epidemiologic studies to
better understand burden on refugees

Educating health care professionals on best practices in refugee
health

Offering technical assistance, education and resources to local,
state and community partners

Providing leadership and guidance to refugee health
professionals in other states; and promoting public health
practices and policies that further our mission
Refugee and International Health Program (RIHP)
Guiding Principles





Community Engagement
Empowering Partnerships
Data-informed Action
Cultural and Linguistic Best Practices
Health Equity
RIHP and Health Equity

Active in the division-wide workgroup
 Accountable to the population we serve
 Inform needs of refugees/immigrants

data collection best practices, grant allocation/management,
community engagement in all areas of MDH’s work
“Health in all policies”
(housing, transportation, education, income, etc,…).
Partners in Refugee Resettlement and Refugee Health
Primary Refugee Arrivals to MN by
Region of the World 1979-2014
8000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
Southeast Asia
Former Soviet Union
Sub-Saharan Africa
Middle East/North Africa
Eastern Europe
Other
2015
2013
2011
2009
2007
2005
2003
2001
1999
1997
1995
1993
1991
1989
1987
1985
1983
0
1981
1000
1979
Number of arrivals
7000
Primary Refugee Arrivals Screened Minnesota
January 2005 - September 2015*
6000
5326
5108
4990
5355
4893
4710
Number of Arrivals
5000
4000
98%
3000
98%
2868
2740
2697
2000
98%
2321
2242
1891
2220 1840
1831
1265
1203
1200
1167
1170
1151
99%
97%
2008
2009
2475
2428
421
1720
1701
1530
99%
99%
99%
1000
2259
2141
2200
2109
2177
2082
99%
99%
90%*
0
2005
2006
2007
Arrivals
2010
Eligible for Screening
2011
2012
2013
2014
Screened
JanSept
2015*
Ineligible if moved out of state or to an unknown destination, unable to locate or died before screening
*2015 Health
data are
preliminary
Refugee
Program,
Minnesota Department of Health
*2015 data are preliminary
Primary Refugee Arrivals, Minnesota
2015*
Bhutan,
64, 3%
Ethiopia,
79, 4%
Iraq,
102, 5%
Afghanistan,
42, 2%
All Others*,
158, 7%
Somalia,
1003, 45%
N=2,211
Burma,
763, 34%
“Other” includes Belarus, Cameroon, Congo, DR Congo, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Liberia, Mexico, Moldova, Russia,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Ukraine and Vietnam
*2015 data are preliminary
Refugee Health Program, Minnesota Department of Health
Net Secondary Refugee Migration
by State, FY 2014
Source: ORR Report FY2014, June 2015
Minnesota Center of Excellence in Refugee Health
o
Create Surveillance Network
Key Activities:


o
Standardize, pool and report on network data
Evaluate EMR/smarsets to create some adaptable templates
Update and expand screening, treatment and public
health guidelines for U.S. providers
Key Activities:



Update and expand CDC domestic refugee screening
guidelines
Write new screening guidelines (Women’s health, preventive
services, pediatrics)
Identify mechanism to share these guidelines
For More Information
Website:
www.health.state.mn.us/refugee
Phone: 651-201-5414 or
1-877-676-5414
Refugee and International Health Program