Building Bridges: A Sustainable Model to Increase Access and Utilization of Health Services Among Low-Income Refugee Communities in Fort Worth

Introduction: Refugee assistance in accessing or eligibility for financial, educational, medical and social service assistance often ends in the first year of arrival. One approach to increase access to health care for refugees is to invest in the innate desire and willingness of refugees to help one another. In this report to the field we introduce Building Bridges Initiative, an academic-community collaboration between researchers and the Texas Refugee and Immigrant Women's Association (TRIWA) to address the health needs of refugee women, ages 18-44, representing four ethnic groups (Burmese (Karen), Bhutanese, Iraqi, and Somali) in the Fort Worth Area. Methods: The intervention was designed to increase refugees' access to and utilization of health services. The collaboration consisted of three phases that trained and supported refugee women to be Community Health Workers (CHWs), conducted focus group health assessments, and provided community education as well as facilitating connections between the refugee community and health resources. Results: Trained four refugee community health workers. Focus groups identified barriers that impede use and navigation of local health and social services such as limited understanding of system, long waiting periods, limited English proficiency and cultural beliefs. Six education programs, service enrollment opportunities and community collaborations to address these needs were facilitated to serve the four targeted refugee groups. Conclusion: The creation of initiatives that foster collaborations between ethnic-self help groups and community health and social service organizations, provide a method by which barriers are indentified, refugee health and resource knowledge and service providers cultural competence is increased.