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Bridging Gaps in Refugee Health through the Refugee Resettlement Practicum
Ashleigh Montgomery1, Ute Maschke, PhD2, & Kate Murray, PhD,MPH1
1. Dept of Family & Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego 2. Refugee Services, Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego
BACKGROUND
COURSE DETAILS
IMPLEMENTATION OUTCOMES OUTCOMES
CONTACT INFORMATION
Kate E. Murray, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor, UC San Diego
email: k2murray@ucsd.edu
To learn more about the practicum and other projects, visit:
http://www.tinyurl.com/refugeehealth
A practicum course was developed to focus on public
health interventions in collaboration with local refugee
resettlement agencies. The goals for the class were to
strengthen ties between UC San Diego and local
resettlement organizations to address refugee
communities’ most pressing public health needs
collaboratively. It also coincided with the launch of a
new undergraduate public health major and a desire to
establish more public health opportunities within the
San Diego community.
The practicum allowed for the university and local
resettlement agencies to collaborate in developing a
sustainable program and structure for addressing
refugee public health needs. This practicum provides a
template for other universities to build collaborations
with community organizations and refugee populations
to address the constantly changing public health needs
of newly arriving refugee cohorts.
Developing additional, long-term collaborations that
continue after the practicum serve as an ideal next
step.
Course Topics
Introduction to refugee resettlement
Program planning
Conducting a needs assessment
Program implementation strategies
Evaluation principles
Cross-cultural principles
Sustainability of public health programs
The practicum was a 4-unit course that emphasized
experiential learning and included:
• 2 hours per week of lecture
• 10 hours per week experiential learning
• Guest lecturers
• A tour of a local resettlement agency
• Ongoing contact with community leaders and
organizations
• Required readings and videos on
• Refugee topics
• Cross-cultural health
• Personal narratives by local refugee community
members
• Personal reflection assignments
Students worked in small groups to:
• Identify a local target refugee community and public
health concern
• Conduct a needs assessment, including:
• A literature review
• Conducting and writing a report on a Key
Informant Interview
• Develop a community profile of major health
concerns based on their needs assessment
• Detail existing resources to be utilized by local
refugee-serving organizations
Final outcomes for the groups included:
• A Logic Model
• A culturally adapted public health resource
• An evaluation and sustainability plan for their
program
*Throughout the course, students presented their
ideas and materials to local experts and community
members for feedback and refinement.
Resources developed within the class included:
• A cookbook (in English and Arabic) focusing on
tips for healthy eating while emphasizing
cultural foods
• A pamphlet and wellness guide on mental
health
• A handout on warning signs and consequences
of substance abuse
• Design and implement a public health
intervention
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This practicum was sponsored by Sixth College at UC
San Diego and supported by Catholic Charities Diocese
of San Diego, Refugee Services.
Other community partners included:
• Family and Preventive Medicine, UC San Diego
• Karen Organization
• Alliance Health Clinic
• Institute for Public Health, SDSU
DISCUSSION
Sustainability Plan
Since the conclusion of the practicum, students have
participated as panelists in showing a documentary about
refugees in Uganda. Students helped to organize the
event and promoted opportunities to get involved in local
refugee programs.
Students have also partnered with a local organization
that serves Burmese refugees, to conduct a workshop
with a community expert surrounding substance abuse.