Refugee and Immigrant Health
About Us
The Department of Public Health’s Refugee and Immigrant Health Program (RIHP) is the public health component of Connecticut’s Refugee Assistance Program. The RIHP works with refugee resettlement agencies and other sponsors, local health departments, and health care providers to offer appropriate health assessments, follow-up or referral, and community-based health education to newly-arriving entrants to Connecticut.
The RIHP assists refugees and asylees, persons with special immigrant visas, lawful permanent residents, and certain other entrants to Connecticut. The RIHP does not receive health information about tourists, students, or persons with work visas.
Program Goals
- To help ensure that refugees receive an initial domestic health assessment soon after arrival in Connecticut, receive diagnosis and treatment for conditions of potential public health significance, and have referrals and treatment for chronic diseases and disorders;
- To notify appropriate health officials if entrants are diagnosed with conditions of public health significance;
- To compile, analyze, and report selected health data about entrants to Connecticut; and
- To provide technical assistance about refugee health matters.
Program Activities: Refugee Health Assessments
Before coming to the United States, refugees undergo an overseas medical screening to determine eligibility for U.S. entry. Soon after U.S. Entry, refugees are advised to undergo an initial domestic refugee health assessment (RHA). In Connecticut, refugee resettlement agencies and other sponsors work with health care providers and local health departments to schedule these RHAs.
Before coming to the United States, refugees undergo an overseas medical screening to determine eligibility for U.S. entry. Soon after U.S. Entry, refugees are advised to undergo an initial domestic refugee health assessment (RHA). In Connecticut, refugee resettlement agencies and other sponsors work with health care providers and local health departments to schedule these RHAs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) provide guidance and resources for use in conducting RHAs. The RIHP helps ensure that RHAs are conducted in a timely fashion, and assists sponsors and health care providers by developing forms and supporting documents for use when they conduct RHAs in Connecticut.
RHA Guidelines and Forms:
Program Activities: Tuberculosis Control
The RIHP conducts certain tuberculosis (TB) control activities as part of the broader mission of the TB Control Program at DPH. Entrants who arrive with an overseas TB classification should undergo a U.S.-based TB evaluation soon after U.S. entry. The RIHP collaborates with sponsors, health care providers, and local health departments to ensure that evaluations, diagnoses, and treatment for TB or latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) are obtained.
The RIHP conducts certain tuberculosis (TB) control activities as part of the broader mission of the TB Control Program at DPH. Entrants who arrive with an overseas TB classification should undergo a U.S.-based TB evaluation soon after U.S. entry. The RIHP collaborates with sponsors, health care providers, and local health departments to ensure that evaluations, diagnoses, and treatment for TB or latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) are obtained.
TB Control Guidelines and Forms:
RESOURCES (selected)
Government Refugee and Refugee Health websites
Refugee Assistance Program (State of Connecticut)
Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (CDC)
Immigrant and Refugee Health (CDC)
Refugee Health Guidelines: Pre-and Post- U.S. Arrival (CDC)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (DHS)
Office of Refugee Resettlement (DHHS)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (CDC)
Immigrant and Refugee Health (CDC)
Refugee Health Guidelines: Pre-and Post- U.S. Arrival (CDC)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (DHS)
Office of Refugee Resettlement (DHHS)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Refugee Health; Health Resources in Multiple Languages
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
HealthReach (NLM)
Refugee Health Technical Assistance Center (RHTAC)
Center for Applied Linguistics: Immigrant and Refugee Integration (CAL)
HealthReach (NLM)
Refugee Health Technical Assistance Center (RHTAC)
Center for Applied Linguistics: Immigrant and Refugee Integration (CAL)
Civil Surgeon Resources
CDC Immigrant and Refugee Health, Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons
Civil Surgeon Locator (USCIS)
CDC Immigrant and Refugee Health, Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons
Civil Surgeon Locator (USCIS)
Language and Interpretation
LEP.gov: Limited English Proficiency
National Standards on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS Standards)
Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons (8/8/2003)
National Standards on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS Standards)
Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons (8/8/2003)
Contact:
Refugee and Immigrant Health Program
Connecticut Department of Public Health
410 Capitol Avenue, MS# 11-TUB
Hartford, CT 06134
Phone: 860-509-7722
Fax: 860-509-7743
http://www.ct.gov/dph/refugeehealth
Connecticut Department of Public Health
410 Capitol Avenue, MS# 11-TUB
Hartford, CT 06134
Phone: 860-509-7722
Fax: 860-509-7743
http://www.ct.gov/dph/refugeehealth