Community Members and Stakeholders Convene to Discuss Refugee and Ethnic Health Concerns
In July 2017, Nile Sisters Development Initiative (NSDI), in partnership with the Office of Minority Health Resource Center, assembled a three-day Refugee and Ethnic Populations Health Convening» with sessions covering technical assistance and capacity building for board members and senior executives of health-oriented, ethnic community-based organizations (ECBOs).
The purpose of the convening was to provide evidence-based information to increase and strengthen the competence of ECBOs to provide culturally and linguistically proficient services to underserved minority populations as well as to build organizational capacity. A one-day training also benefited community health workers who work with recently arrived refugees and other ethnic minority populations, specifically related to the prevention and treatment of HIV / AIDS and hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Key emergent themes developed during the convening. Participants cited the need to address the following:
- refugee mental health and wellness from a cultural and linguistically sound perspective
- cultural stresses that often lead to domestic abuse and violence disputes in refugee communities
- the health status of males from refugee background
- educational and employment gaps in refugee and newcomer communities
- support for emerging leaders, organizations, and gatekeepers with lived experiences of impacted communities
- establishment of mutually beneficial partnerships with cross-sector stakeholders
In total, 37 attendees representing 12 organizations from five diverse sectors participated in the convening. The participants hail from 15 different countries and represent 15 languages/dialects.
