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February 10
In this edition:
Idaho Conference on Refugees – Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who was part of the fourth annual Idaho Conference on Refugees: Stories of Success. 375 people from across the nation joined to share ideas and skills that will help them in their work with the refugee community.
Next year’s conference will be held February 11-12, 2013, so make sure the check the website and these e-mail alerts for information on presenting, awards, and registration. Thanks again!
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, US State Department reps visit Boise
Those of you who attended the Idaho Conference on Refugees heard from Vincent Cochetel, Regional Representative for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the United States and the Caribbean, and Kelly Gauger, Deputy Director for Refugee Admission at the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.
Free Community Health Screening - February 16th
On February 16th there will be a Community Health Screening event at the Expo Idaho Fairgrounds. This free event is for low-income adults with no insurance or limited access to preventive health care.
Free screenings and services include:
Basic Physical Exam/Assessment (Includes Blood Pressure Check, Foot Exam & Medication Review)
Hearing Screening
Depression & Alcohol Screening Questionnaires
Oral/Dental Health Evaluation
On-site Testing for Blood Sugar Levels & HIV
Flu Shots!
Mammogram Referrals
Disease Education
Diabetes Education
Nutritional Education
Dental Education
When:
Thursday, February 16, 2012, 4:00pm-7:00pm
(Participants can arrive anytime between 4-6pm, and should plan 60-70 minutes to complete the screening process)
Where:
Expo Idaho Fairgrounds-Western Town Building
5610 N. Glenwood St., Boise (Garden City)
Bus Information: Valley Ride bus stops neraby at Chindren & Kent
OR - Need a ride to the clinic? Call the Idaho CareLine at 2-1-1
Questions: Call 373-1700, Idaho State University-Meridian Health Science Center
E Pluribus Unum Prizes open for nominations
The E Pluribus Unum Prizes are a national awards program that provides prizes annually to exceptional initiatives that promote immigrant integration. In 2012, the program will award three $50,000 prizes and one Corporate Leadership Award.
The awards recognize outstanding immigrant integration initiatives of all types, whether led by nonprofit or community organizations, businesses, public agencies, religious groups, or individuals.
The awards program is coordinated by the Migration Policy Institute's National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy - a hub for those who seek to build their knowledge and skills in the area of immigrant integration.
The J.M. Kaplan Fund is generously providing support for these awards to focus attention on successful integration initiatives and to inspire and provide program models to others around the United States who might also undertake such efforts.
If you are involved in an exceptional immigrant integration initiative, we encourage you to apply for recognition. The application period for the 2012 Prizes runs from January 2 - March 15, 2012.
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January 20
In this edition:
Registration closes TODAY for the Idaho Conference on Refugees!
Now accepting applications for HSCF’s Advocates in Disability Award (ADA)
Artisans4Hope Sewing Class beings February 2
Registration closes TODAY for the Idaho Conference on Refugees!
Today is the final day to register for the Idaho Conference on Refugees. To register, make sure you fill out the online registration form today at: http://www.idahorefugees.org/Conference/Registration/.
Registration closes today, January 20!
Now accepting applications for HSCF’s Advocates in Disability Award (ADA)
The HSC Foundation’s ADA Award has gone national and is seeking the next generation of disability advocates!! If you are a young leader or know young leaders with disabilities, you/they are encouraged to apply for the 2012 Advocates in Disability Award (ADA)!
The purpose of the ADA Program is to award and encourage a young individual with a disability between the ages of 14 and 26, who has dedicated himself/herself to positively affecting the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families in the United States. The program also supports an innovative project developed by a young person with a disability that serves and empowers individuals with disabilities.
The Advocates in Disability Award (ADA) is a program of The HSC Foundation, funded in part by the Sarah Beth Coyote Foundation. The selected recipient is awarded $3,000 in recognition of his/her past disability advocacy and will receive up to an additional $7,000 in funding support for his/her proposed project that focuses on serving and empowering individuals with disabilities.
Applicants must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States at the time of application submission and recipient selection.
The Advocates in Disability Award Program is part of The HSC Foundation’s National Youth Transitions Initiative (NYTI).
To apply, please see the attached guidelines and application. You may also apply online at: http://www.hscfoundation.org/2012ADA.php/.
Applications must be received by February 28, 2012 (by 5:00pm EST).
Artisans4Hope Sewing Class beings February 2
Artisans4Hope will be starting a new sewing class on February 2.
Training Program for refugees with artisan textile handcraft skills who wish to sustain, develop and adapt those skills in the western market place to product income. Training will include sewing and basic machine skills, knitting, ESL, and community knowledge. The emphasis will be on developing skills, knowledge, and ease with the design, finish, and quality necessary for custom sewing; note, however that basic sewing and machine skills are adaptive to production sewing. Board and trainers offer consultation and support with selecting, producing, marketing, and distributing income producing products. We also receive information from the business community about potential production
sewing opportunities and make referrals and connections as appropriate. There is no cost.
What: Sewing/Knitting/Machines/Custom Design and Finish/English as a Second Language/Community Knowledge- The class will meet weekly for 8 weeks. Students completely the class will receive a certificate of completion – students may, if necessary participate in the program successive times.
Where: 413 W. Idaho (the building sign has Centra Consulting). The classes at Artisans4Hope will be held on the ground floor of the building, suite 101. A4H is on the south end of the building.
When: Beginning February 2, 2012, every Thursday morning from 9AM to 12Noon for 8 weeks.
1. Refugee Participants may be referred by the Idaho Office on Refugees, one of the existing resettlement agencies or churches/organizations/volunteers who may be aware of potentially interested trainees. Referral requests should be sent to Joan Cloonan, jcloonan@mindspring.com.
2. Classes can accommodate 8 students per program. We cannot accommodate visitors and friends although there will be occasions on which trainees can invite family and friends.
3. Participants must commit to attend the entire program. There will be opportunities for making up classes however participants will be expected to attend at least 6 of the 8 classes in order to be considered for a Certificate of Completion.
4. Participants will receive fabric, yarn, and other textile supplies to use in the training classes and with which to begin design of specialized products.
5. Trainees past and present will be able to come to the Training Center on Wednesdays during its open hours to practice and to sew or knit.
6. Participants will be made aware of possible production sewing opportunities within the local business community.
7. Training will be conducted within an English as a Second Language Environment. Trainees will be expected and encouraged to utilize English as much as possible at the Training Center.
8. Participants will sign in and out at each class with name and contact information.
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January 6
In this edition:
Girls’ Self Esteem Group
Warm Springs Counseling Center is offering a self-esteem group for girls ages 13-15. This “Positive About Self” group will focus on building self-esteem, reframing negative self-talk, increasing awareness of negative cultural and societal influences, developing coping skills, learning techniques to increase self-confidence, creative expression through art, and verbal processing.
There will be many opportunities for expression through art and expressive therapy, so youth with limited English will still find the sessions useful. Sessions start January 11 and are held weekly on Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00pm for eleven weeks. Cost is $35 per session; Warm Springs Counseling Center accepts most insurance plans and Medicaid. Subsidy programs are available for those who qualify.
Independent refugee documentary seeking support
A documentary group is securing support to make a documentary focusing on the Clarkston, GA "International Community School", that teaches refugee children alongside local American children so that they can learn from one another.
Synopsis: “Right outside Atlanta, Georgia is a small charter school that brings together refugee children from war-torn countries all over the world and teaches them alongside local American children. A Place In The World follows three families with ties to the school, a first year teacher, and the new principal of the school over the course of two years, as they adapt to, and learn from, this diverse and complex social environment. The film asks the question of whether we can all live together in this rapidly changing world.”
Please help spread the word!
FREE spaces available in Cross Cultural Health Providers Medical Interpreting Program
There is room for five more participants in the upcoming Cross Cultural Health Care Providers (CCHCP) 40 hour medical interpreter training. This course is offered FREE through grant funding.
Participants should have good English speaking and reading/writing ability, and it's helpful if they've had previous interpreter training. Note that successful completion of this course is NOT considered an offer of contractual employment as an interpreter. CCHCP certification is widely recognized throughout the healthcare community of the Treasure Valley as a preferred certificate program for interpreters in the medical setting. If an interpreter has previously taken an 8 or 16 hour course, this class is a wonderful addition to their skill set.
The next Interpreters Training class starts on February 4 from 9:00am to 5:00 p.m., then continues every Monday and Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The final class is Friday, March 2.
To take advantage of this opportunity, please contact Eunice Njiraini, St. Al’s Family Center ( C.A.R.E Clinic ), euninjir@sarmc.org or 208-367-2126.
Telephone Scam targeting Bhutanese Refugees
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has been alerted to a new telephone scam apparently targeting Bhutanese refugees. A man identifying himself as a representative of the “Federal Grants Department” calls from a Washington, DC-based telephone number, (202) 436-9601, informing recently resettled refugees that they are eligible to receive $10,000 because they are refugees from Bhutan. To claim the money, they are instructed to produce a money order for $650, and call the telephone number for further instructions on where to send the money.
Be advised that this is NOT a legitimate solicitation.
At least one refugee has been coerced into making multiple payments as “processing fees”, totaling more than $5,000.
So far, reports are localized in Texas, but ORR advises everyone to be aware of this scam and avoid giving any personal information or payments to unknown callers.
Please note that the federal government does not demand processing fees or security deposits from grant recipients. If you are the target of a suspicious request, please contact your local police or resettlement agency for further assistance.
Early Bird Conference Registration and Awards Nominations
Also, nominations for this year’s Refugee Recognition Awards are due today, January 6. If you know any deserving refugees, volunteers, resettlement workers, or others who work with refugees, take a few minutes and nominate them today! http://www.idahorefugees.org/Conference/Recognition_Awards/.
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December 16
In this edition:
Keynote Announced – Loung Ung
We are pleased to announce this year’s conference keynote speaker will be Loung Ung. Loung is a survivor of the killing fields of Cambodia, one of the bloodiest episodes of the twentieth century. Some 1.7 million Cambodians—out of a population of just seven million—died at the hands of the infamous Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime.
Loung was born in 1970 to a middle-class family in Phnom Penh. Five years later, her family was forced out of the city in a mass evacuation to the countryside. By 1978, the Khmer Rouge had killed Loung’s parents and two of her siblings and she was forced to train as a child soldier. In 1980, she and her older brother escaped by boat to Thailand, where they spent five months in a refugee camp. They then relocated to Vermont through sponsorship by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Holy Family Church parish in Burlington.
Loung has since become an author and activist. Her books “First They Killed My Father: a Daughter of Cambodia Remembers” and “Lucky Child” are poignant accounts of her experiences as a refugee. Loung worked for the Vietnam Veterans’ of America Foundation's (VVAF) Campaign for a Landmine-Free World from 1997-2003, prior to which she was Community Educator for the Abused Women's Advocacy Project of the Maine Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The World Economic Forum selected her as one of the "100 Global Youth Leaders of Tomorrow." She has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Globe, the London Sunday Times, Biography, Glamour, Jane, Ms., People, and more.
For more information about Loung, visit: http://www.idahorefugees.org/Conference/Keynote/
Early Bird Registration – only TWO WEEKS left!
Only two weeks remain for early bird registration! Register now to lock in the reduced conference fee and get first choice of workshops. Early Bird Registration is only $75—register by December 31. Registration after this date will be $95, so don’t delay!
Register today at: http://www.idahorefugees.org/Conference/Registration/
RefuSki Program
ELL Teacher Megan Jones is raising funds to help four refugee youth participate in the Bogus Basin Nordic Team. Megan started working with these youth last year, and motivated them to excel in English and other academic subjects by helping them join the team and learn to ski. These kids, who at the beginning of the winter were wary of the slopes, were sailing up and down hills with the rest of the team by the end of the season.
This year, the nordic team is donating the coaching and the van transport, but the youth will still need to pay national ski association dues (for insurance purposes) and get trail passes and rental equipment. The cost for each child is roughly $300 per season. If you are interested in assisting these refugee youth, you can help sponsor them through the RefuSki Program here: https://www.wepay.com/donate/190949?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150975715170414_28027315_10150981490800414#f28b825e38.
Award Nominations Open
We are accepting nominations for this year’s Idaho Refugee Recognition Awards! Do you know a deserving refugee, volunteer, resettlement worker, or Idaho citizen? Nominate them for the following awards today:
-Idaho Refugee Resettlement Honors
-Idaho Refugee Champion Award
-Idaho Refugee Educator Awards
-Idaho Refugee Employer Award
-Idaho Refugee Integration & Success Award
-Idaho Refugee Outstanding Interpreters
To learn more about these awards and to nominate someone, visit: http://www.idahorefugees.org/Conference/Recognition_Awards/
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December 2
In this edition:
Idaho Conference on Refugees Registration now OPEN
We are pleased to announce the schedule, workshops, and registration for this year’s Idaho Conference on Refugees are now available on the Idaho Office for Refugees Conference website. The conference will be held January 30th & 31st, 2012 at Boise State University.
Expert presenters are offering over 30 workshops geared toward education, health, self-sufficiency, cultural competency, and advocacy this year. We will also offer an interpreted workshop track for refugee participants (and open to everyone!) again this year. Plenary speakers include Vincent Cochetel, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and a representative from the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). We will be releasing keynote details in the next two weeks.
COR/PRM offer Overseas Cultural Orientation: Webinar
The Cultural Orientation Resource Center is hosting s a webinar, "Overseas Cultural Orientation: CO Coordinators describe programs, caseloads, and emphases." During this PRM-funded webinar, the seven Cultural Orientation coordinators from around the world will share information about their overseas CO programs for U.S.-bound refugees, the caseload(s) their programs serve, the messages their trainers emphasize during CO delivery, and considerations for domestic service providers. Participants will be able to ask questions and submit feedback to the CO Coordinators regarding the resettlement and adjustment experiences of refugees from various regions.
Topic: Overseas Cultural Orientation: CO Coordinators describe programs, caseloads, and emphases
Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Time: 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.(EST)
Grants available for Health Care Innovation Challenge
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is pleased to share the announcement of a unique funding opportunity announcement through its Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI).
The Health Care Innovation Challenge will award up $1 billion in grants to applicants who will implement the most compelling new ideas to deliver better health, improved care and lower costs to people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, particularly those with the highest health care needs.
The objectives of this initiative are to:
-Engage a broad set of innovation partners to identify and test new care delivery and payment models that originate in the field and that produce better care, better health, and reduced cost through improvement for identified target populations.
-Identify new models of workforce development and deployment and related training and education that support new models either directly or through new infrastructure activities.
-Support innovators who can rapidly deploy care improvement models (within six months of award) through new ventures or expansion of existing efforts to new populations of patients, in conjunction (where possible) with other public and private sector partners.
Awards will range from approximately $1 million to $30 million for a three-year period. Applications are open to providers, payers, local government, public-private partnerships and multi-payer collaboratives. Each grantee project will be monitored for measurable improvements in quality of care and savings generated.
Potential applicants must submit a letter of intent (LOI) by December 19, 2011 in order to be eligible for a funding award. Please refer to the FOA for more information on the LOI process.
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October 2011
Twin Falls - Times-News' Honored for Refugee Reporting
Boise - Boise refugee honored for his dedication to city
Boise- Refugees Bring Flavor of Home to Community Farms
Boise- Student Spotlight: Farhad Mangal
September 2011
Boise- Growing Lives: Images of Boise's Refugee Gardens
August 2011
Twin Falls - Times-News site "Future of a forgotten people" follows the journeys of Bhutanese refugees to Twin Falls. Check often for new articles and updates!
Boise - Kathy Gardner, Director of the Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force, has been recognized for her work with the Somali Bantu African Food Project!
Vote for her as the AARP Hunger Hero Award winner, and help her organization claim the $15,000 donation!
July 2011
Boise - Cultural Depth: Despite a white-washed image, Boise's ethnic community is growing
Boise - One World Soccer Camp returns to Boise
Boise - Boise State University welcomes new certificate programs for those working with refugees.
May 2011
Twin Falls - Bosnian officer works to be better than the crooked police of his youth
Twin Falls - Burundi Refugee to be Canyon Ridge Valedictorian
Twin Falls - "Nepal refugees' airport arrival is end of long journey, start of another." Read about the journeys of some of the newest refugees to call Twin Falls home.
December 2010
Boise - Health Care Field Offers Hope in a Tough Time for Refugees.
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