Community Connections for Refugees with Disabilities (CCRD)
Thousands of refugees arrive in Chicago each year after spending time in camps or in makeshift homes while awaiting transition to a new country. They may be fleeing religious, ethnic or political persecution. Many of these individuals have lost family members to war or violence and most have lost all of their personal possessions. The first contact that new arrivals have with the United States health care system is with their initial health screening. Sinai Health System’s Touhy Health Center is the second largest provider of health screenings in Illinois.
In 2007, Touhy Health Center experienced a noticeable increase in the number of refugees with disabilities. After meeting with the Jewish Federation and various resettlement agencies, the link between the needs of the refugees and the expertise of Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital’s services became a perfect fit. In response, a specialty clinic for refugees was established at Touhy to address this need and begin the process of identifying and treating disabilities.
In collaboration with local refugee resettlement agencies, the Extended Services Department developed the Community Connections for Refugees with Disabilities program to streamline, coordinate and enhance services for refugees with disabilities. The aim of the program is to:
- Connect refugees with rehabilitation services and culturally competent social services
- Empower refugees with disabilities to live to their highest level of independence
- Ensure refugees with disabilities receive adequate support to access community resources
This will best be achieved through building upon the services refugees receive from their resettlement agencies while focusing specifically on their unique needs associated with their disability. Nearly 100 refugees with disabilities from 16 countries were served in the first six months of this program.
Funding sources
Illinois Department of Public Health (www.idph.state.il.us/)
Field Foundation (www.fieldfoundation.org
Contact information:
Refugee Coordinator
Telephone: (773) 522-6478
Fax: (773) 522-6650
Email: extendedservices@sinai.org
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