DEPARTMENT: Public Health
FILE TYPE: Regular Information
TITLE
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Refugee Health Board Update 2022
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Receive an update on the scope of refugee arrivals to Dakota County in 2022 and how Dakota County Public Health and Employment and Economic Assistance are working to meet the increased client needs and requirements for these individuals and families.
SUMMARY
During 2022, Dakota County has seen an increase in primary refugee arrivals. This is due to several international conflicts, most notably the war in Ukraine and recent conflict in Afghanistan. Prior to 2022, Dakota County received an average of twenty-five primary refugees annually. As of October 1, 2022, Dakota County has already received 78 primary refugee arrivals, which is a 300 percent increase.
Dakota County has received the third largest group of Ukrainian refugees in Minnesota to date. Dakota County is expecting to receive more Ukrainian refugees this year as over 190 Dakota County citizens are approved to receive family and/or friends from Ukraine.
Dakota County Public Health Nurses and Community Health Workers contact all newly arriving refugee families to enroll them in the Refugee Health Program. This includes connecting the clients with local clinics for medical screening for communicable diseases such as Tuberculosis and completing a thorough assessment to determine immunization status.
Public Health and Employment and Economic Assistance staff have met throughout 2022 to communicate on-going efforts in both departments to assist newly arriving refugees. The challenges and opportunities have centered around the unique pathway that Ukrainian refugees are arriving here that is different than traditional refugee programs in the US. Staff have worked to adapt current programs to better meet the needs of this population.
To create efficiencies, Public Health has revised program procedures to streamline the refugee health process, including increasing the role...
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