Refugee Well-Being Promoters: Overcoming barriers to wellness across the lifespan

Refugees' prior experiences in their country of origin--the refugee camp, fleeing from one place to the other, preparation for resettlement--greatly influence their resettlement process in the US. In the camps basic needs are met through a system of passive dependency. In the US, basic needs are met through systems requiring self-reliance. Upon arrival many refugees look forward to a lifespan of equal justice, health and prosperity only to discover an abundance of barriers creating new disparities. Within the US healthcare system refugees face limited access to quality and necessary services. To reach their full wellness potential, resettled refugees are in need of education, guidance, and support within and beyond the healthcare continuum. Following the principles of the Community Health Worker (CHW) Model, the Well-Being Promotion program at the International Rescue Committee in Tucson is an education, referral and advocacy program employing refugee women who have successfully resettled and integrated into the Tucson community as Well-Being Promoters to transmit specific knowledge, information resources, and skills to newly arrived women and their families, in order to create a community of self-reliant refugees. During the presentation the Program Coordinator will demonstrate the application of the CHW model to the resettled refugee community, and how the utilization of refugee women as educators, role models, and cultural liaisons overcome barriers preventing resettling refugees from achieving wellness across the lifespan.