About Us

Goal:
The goal of the Virginia Newcomer Health Program (NHP) is to ensure that all newly arriving immigrants with a refugee and asylum status receive a preventative health assessment within 45 days of arrival in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Objective:
The objective of the NHP is to identify and eliminate health-related barriers to successful resettlement of Virginia’s refugee population, while protecting the health of the U.S. population.

LSS/NCA Passport to the World
celebration-World Refugee Day

History of Program:
The Refugee and Immigrant Health Program (RIHP) was created by the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS), Office of Newcomer Services (ONS) following the passage of the United States Federal Refugee Act of 1980. This Act created a uniform system of services for refugees migrating to the United States. The Act entitled all newly arriving refugees to a comprehensive health assessment, to be initiated as soon as possible, following arrival.

ONS works through the RIHP to coordinate, facilitate, and monitor the provision of initial health assessment services to newly arrived refugees in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Because Tuberculosis (TB) infection and disease are common health problems observed in the refugee population, the RIHP became a part of the VDH, Division of TB Control (DTC) in 1997. In June 2004, the Refugee and Immigrant Health Program changed its name to the “Newcomer Health Program” (NHP). In November of 2005, VDH placed the NHP under the Division of Disease Prevention (DDP).

What We Do:
In collaboration with Local Health Districts (LHDs) and refugee resettlement agencies, the VDH, NHP:

• Assures that all new refugees receive a comprehensive health screening at a LHD within 45 days of their arrival in the United States
• Coordinates and facilitates the transfer of federal Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) funds administered by ONS to VDH, LHDs for initial health assessment services
• Provides education and training to public health providers on specific health concerns of various refugee populations
• Advocates for culturally competent care delivery and the use of qualified medical interpreters for quality assurance
• Collects data of refugee arrivals, health conditions and outcome of their assessment data and links refugee health concerns with the mission of other programs within VDH
• Collects outcome data on aliens with classified tuberculosis conditions, reporting to the VDH, TB Control Program and to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ)

Refugees have unique health care needs which result from conditions in their native countries, their refugee experiences and their journeys to the United States. Many refugees come from areas where disease control, diagnosis and treatment are lacking and health systems and surveillance is interrupted. Further, vastly different health care beliefs and cultural and linguistic barriers impede access to information and services.

Program Notification:
CDC, DGMQ, uses the Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) System to notify the NHP of the arrival of all refugees and immigrants with CDC medically-classified conditions who resettle in the Commonwealth of Virginia. LHDs are, in turn, notified by the NHP of arrivals to facilitate an initial refugee health assessment, and/or follow-up evaluation for health conditions such as tuberculosis.

Refugee Health Screenings:
The health status of new arrivals is monitored through the initial health assessment. The assessment provides the opportunity for early identification of communicable disease and other conditions which, if undetected, can have a negative impact on public health, as well as on the refugee’s well-being and ability to achieve self-sufficiency.

For more information on completing the Refugee Initial Health Assessment form, follow the link to Services and Resources for Health Providers.