Addressing Health Disparities in Refugees

I completed the required 300 hours of my fieldwork internship at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Oakland, CA. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a non-profit international organization that responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and aids displaced individuals in rebuilding their lives in new countries by providing support in health care, finance, education, infrastructure, and resettlement. I worked as a Health Access/Intensive Case management Intern. As a Health Access Program Intern, it was my job to ensure that refugees coming to the United States had a place to seek medical care, advice, and preventative services. In order to improve access to health care for refugees, I assisted clients in choosing a medical provider, and accompanied clients to health screenings and follow up appointments with providers. I was also responsible for the development and implementation of a culturally competent educational curriculum targeted towards newly arrived pregnant women. The curriculum included information on navigating the U.S. health care system, prenatal and postpartum care, and nutrition and exercise