Immigrant and refugee populations experience health-related challenges on many levels, from access to engagement with health resources in communities across the country. Individual and system-level health literacy challenges include: understanding and accessing health care, public health, and health insurance systems that are unique to the US, health information in non-native languages, and the acute and chronic trauma associated with the act of fleeing their homes to start a new life in a new country. This session will focus on policy and practice innovations to advance health among immigrant and refugee populations with real world examples from the perspectives of public and community health.
Attendees will be able to…
1. Identify health literacy challenges to immigrants and refugees entering the US
2. Identify the unique mental health challenges among immigrants and refugees that serve as barriers to effective use of the US health care system
3. Discuss gaps and opportunities in providing health resources to immigrants and refugees
4. Identify system-level health literacy interventions to advance access and engagement in health care in the US, including:
• Communication strategies to establish trust
• Case management
• Community Health Workers and community engagement