Refugee Health Program

Refugee Health Program

The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) initiated a Refugee Health Program in November of 2003. The goal of the program is to ensure that refugees and asylees enter into a comprehensive system of care that adequately responds to their unique health care needs.

The Refugee Health Program has three main components:

Coordination of care
The Refugee Health Program works with refugee resettlement agencies, state programs, and health and social service providers to develop coordinated and comprehensive health services for refugees.

Education and training
The Refugee Health Program provides training specifically for medical providers who work with refugees.

Surveillance and epidemiology
The Refugee Health Program maintains a database to track refugee health information for planning and reporting purposes.

The Refugee Health Program collaborates with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and contracted agencies to ensure comprehensive, quality, and appropriate health services. DHS is the state agency responsible for refugee resettlement. The State Coordinator of Refugee Resettlement at DHS manages contracts for refugee reception and placement, employment assistance, English as a second language instruction, and case management. The Refugee Resettlement agencies (a.k.a. VOLAGS) and Rhode Island College are contracted by DHS to deliver these services.