REFUGEE IMMIGRANT CHILD HEALTH INITIATIVE
Founded in 2017 with the mission of improving the quality of care for our immigrant patients and their families.
Human Rights and Children's Health: A Multilink Bond
November 16, 2022
Presenter: Vidya Ramanathan, MD
The presentation reviews human rights and child rights broadly, human rights violations in immigrant and refugee children, the impacts that human rights violations have on children's health, and concrete steps to take when working with immigrant and refugee children in a clinical setting.
Pediatric Immigrant and Refugee Health Care in the 21st Century - Clinical and Policy Perspectives
December 3, 2021
Presenter: Renowned Pediatrician Janine Young, MD, FAAP
The presentation reviews current arrival numbers, discuss evidence-based approaches to medical screening and ongoing care linkage, and provide examples of data informing advocacy and policy work.
RICHI Aims To
- Educate healthcare providers to assess the medical, legal, and social needs of newcomers and create immigrant-friendly healthcare spaces in Illinois
- Gather resources for healthcare providers to assist their patients with behavioral health, legal, and community organization referrals to coordinate care of children and families
- Provide education and quality improvement opportunities for pediatricians working with refugee and immigrant populations
- Train a network of medical and behavioral health providers to perform forensic asylum examinations
- Inform physicians about opportunities to advocate for legislation and policies that benefit children
- Connect with community and legal organizations to assess the medical needs of target populations
For a gathering of clinical resources for refugee and immigrant health:
RICHI members advocate on behalf of immigrant children and families
Signing onto a Supreme Court amicus brief in support of DACA
Providing and soliciting comments opposing proposed Public Charge rule changes
Writing to Congress to argue for the necessity of Medical Deferred Action
Forming professional relationships with legal, social service, and health care organizations to better support immigrant families through culturally-competent care and communications
Engaging in crucial capacity building around the performance of medical and psychological forensic assessments in support of pediatric and family asylum cases through its Midwest Human Rights Consortium (MHRC)
Add Your Voice
To join RICHI’s efforts to improve the health of immigrant children and families across Illinois, please contact Mary Elsner, Director, Health Equity Initiatives at melsner@illinoisaap.com