Refugee and International Health Quarterly

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March 2023

• Greetings from the Refugee and International Health (RIH) Team
• Provider Update: Minnesota Lead Screening Guidelines
• Community Spotlight: Ukrainian American Community Center
• Recent Clinical Guidance Training
• International Health Update: Translated Posters

Greetings from the Refugee and International Health (RIH) Team

We hope 2023 has started well for you! It’s been a busy quarter for resettlement partners across our State and across the country. As of January 31, 2023, over 1,000 Ukrainians have made it to Minnesota through the Uniting for Ukraine program and partners have been assisting them with their basic needs. Health-related resources for health care providers and community partners in Minnesota are available at Ukrainians in Minnesota. If you’d like us to include additional materials, email us at refugeehealth@state.mn.us with your suggestions.

On January 20, 2023, the U.S. State Department launched the Welcome Corps Refugee Program. This program creates an opportunity for sponsor groups to privately welcome refugees into our communities and assist them with their resettlement needs. As one of their responsibilities, sponsors will coordinate the refugee health assessment for the newcomers. 

Although we are yet to learn the number of sponsored refugees Minnesotans will welcome, the first of the 5,000 refugees who will be admitted to the U.S. will start arriving in April 2023. In the coming weeks, our program will share expanded resources and procedures to guide sponsors and health care providers working with these arrivals.

This issue of our quarterly newsletter covers:

• Updated Minnesota Lead Screening Guidelines
• Ukrainian American Community Center spotlight for their great work with our most recent newcomers
• Updates from our colleagues at International Health

We have also updated our Directories for Organizations Serving Diverse Communities.

We are grateful for your partnership and look forward to our ongoing collaboration!

Provider Update: Minnesota Lead Screening Guidelines

A revision of the Childhood Blood Lead Screening Guidelines for Minnesota was published in December 2022. 

• The Childhood Blood Lead Screening Guidelines for Minnesota document was based on research and input from a workgroup of multi-disciplinary partners and includes several important updates, including recommended universal blood lead testing at 12 and 24 months of age and targeted blood lead testing for those 25 months through 17 years of age.
• Recommendations for lead screening of newcomer populations are also highlighted in the Domestic Refugee Health Screening Guidance: Blood Lead Screening. Refugees, asylees, humanitarian parolees, should be tested upon arrival and 3-6 months after the initial blood test.
• The revised Childhood Blood Lead Screening Guidelines for Minnesota: Reference Manual also notes that clinic workflows and order sets should be reviewed to ensure appropriate follow up for newcomer populations, particularly for those ages who are not traditionally captured by clinic lead protocols.

Community Spotlight: Ukrainian American Community Center

Since its inception in 1964, the Ukrainian American Community Center (UACC) has provided support, celebration, and a sense of community for Ukrainians in Minnesota. The UACC is located right along the Mississippi River, in the northeast neighborhood of Minneapolis. On the inside, the building is beautifully decorated with pictures, paintings, and the Ukrainian flag. The images of a vinok, a traditional Ukrainian flower crown, offers beauty and hope within the walls of the community center. UACC was founded by Ukrainian immigrants who sought to have a community and cultural center to call their own.

The organization does a myriad of work including policy advocacy, hosting community events, educational workshops, celebrations, festivals, and more. The mission of the UACC speaks to its direct efforts to “unite and empower the community through social services, humanitarian aid, and advancement of Ukrainian heritage, culture, and history.”
In more recent times, UACC has come together to be a welcoming place for Ukrainian immigrants, fleeing the current war in Ukraine. They’ve stepped up to establish a community wide crisis response committee called #StandWithUkraineMN. This effort is helping to provide basic needs, connecting to broader community resources, host rallies and protests, as well as provide humanitarian and medical aid to Ukrainians abroad.

UACC currently hosts Friday educational workshops and open office hours. The educational workshops vary by topic and have included topics around public benefits, employment access, immigration support, and more. The open office hours are an opportunity for Ukrainian individuals, families, and sponsors to come to the center for assistance navigating the resettlement process. Minnesota Department of Health attends the Friday Open Office Hours to provide guidance on health-related matters, including how to obtain a health screening.

The Ukrainian American Community Center is a vibrant and welcoming home to all who wish to learn more and be part of advocacy and celebration of Ukrainian heritage and culture. To learn more about the organization, including upcoming community events, please visit their website: Ukrainian American Community Center.

Recent Clinical Guidance Training

The Minnesota Department of Health Refugee Health Program offered six trainings on the revised clinical guidance for refugee health assessments in Minnesota in early February. These recommendations are based on recent updates to the CDC's Guidance for the U.S. Domestic Medical Examination for Newly Arriving Refugees and modified based on Minnesota-specific resources and epidemiology. During these trainings, we reviewed the current guidance for each assessment component and any changes from previous recommendations. A recording of this training is available for those who were unable to attend at Minnesota Domestic Refugee Health Screening Guidance. Please contact lily.rubenstein@state.mn.us for more information.

International Health Update: Translated Posters

Our partners in International Health have also been busy! International Health’s two malaria prevention posters are now available in Arabic, Amharic, English, French, Oromo, Somali, and Swahili. Both malaria prevention posters contain key steps travelers can take to protect themselves when visiting countries with malaria. Posters can be downloaded and printed from MDH’s website. If you prefer to have printed copies sent to you to put in waiting rooms and other community spaces, please email health.idee@state.mn.us.

Access international travel translated resources:

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