Navigating the U.S. Health Care System

Navigating Through the U.S. Health Care System for Immigrants, Refugees and Migrants is a set of books to help non-English speaking newcomers to the United States learn about the U.S. health care system.

New arrivals from other countries are often confused by the differences between the U.S. health care system and that of their home countries.

" Navigating through the US Healthcare System for Immigrants, Refugees, and Migrants Instructional Video"

Everything you always wanted to know about Navigating through the US healthcare system toolkit, but were afraid to ask.

View our new instructional tutorial that will take you through each of the Navigating resource guides to enhance your utilization.

The Instructional Video will:

• Explain the history behind the development of the Navigating Toolkit.
• Describe the contents and utilization of each resource guide.
• Highlight the cultural specifications.
• Give interactive scenarios that will assist you navigating through the information available in the resource guides.
• Highlight the most efficient use of the Navigating curriculum for healthcare educators.

Click here to download the video / Video Transcripts

Navigating Resource Guides in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Russian can be downloaded from this website by clicking on your language preference

To bridge the information gap Navigating Through the U.S. Health Care System for Immigrants, Refugees and Migrants was created with the following components:

• Newcomer's Guide which is an introductory handbook on the U.S. Health Care System (English | Spanish | Arabic | Vietnamese | Russian)
• Resource Guide which is a directory to Health Care Facilities and Information in the State of Virginia (English | Spanish | Arabic | Vietnamese | Russian)
• Teaching curriculum about how to use these materials has also been developed for community organizations and faith-based groups working with refugees, immigrants, and migrants.

Both guides are available in English and Spanish. Guides in Arabic, Russian and Vietnamese.

Each has been specifically researched and written with culturally appropriate perspectives and explanations relevant to each of the four newcomer populations.

In addition to answering questions such as:

• Where to get care
• Who gives care
• How to pay for care

   It includes information about the socio-cultural components of health care:

• Explains the importance of asking health providers questions
• Explains why appointments are necessary
• Explains what to expect from a U.S. caregiver

If you are a community support provider and wish to receive your personal copy of book 1 (soft cover of Navigating in Russian, Arabic, or Vietnamese), please contact Valerie McAllister at valerie.mcallister@vdh.virginia.gov