Refugee Cultures and Resettlement

Training for DeKalb DFCS Staff

October 24, 2012

Introductions

� Department of Human Services (DHS) Refugee Unit

� Refugee Family Services

� www.refugeefamilyservices.org

� Catholic Charities Atlanta

� www.catholiccharitiesatlanta.org

Agenda

� Introductions

� Warm Up Activity

� Refugee 101

� Cultural Information

� Break

� Adjustment Challenges

� Case Study

� Question & Answer

� Evaluation

Questions

� If you have a question, please write it

on one of the note cards found on your table.

� We will come around to collect them and try to answer as many as possible during the question portion of our presentation.

� We will also provide a Resource List for you to access additional information as needed.

Activity

� Pink:

� Spouse, and any unmarried children under 21

� Yellow:

� 4 important people in your life

� Blue:

� 3 things that are important to you that don’t fit inside a book bag

� Green:

� 3 things that are important to you that do fit inside a book bag

Who is a refugee?

Someone who has fled his or her country because of persecution based on:

• race

• religion

• nationality

• social group

• political opinion

Definition

According to the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, a refugee is:

Any person who is outside any country of such person's

nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, is

outside any country in which such person last habitually

resided, and who is unable or unwilling to return to, and is

unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection

of, that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear

of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality,

membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

Unless the situation changes in their home country, refugees cannot return home and must resettle permanently in another country.

Refugee facts

There are over 14 million

refugees worldwide.

Most refugees are from

developing countries.

80% of refugees are

women and children.

Video of Burmese refugees

Refugee camps

Refugees flee from their homes to neighboring countries of asylum, often into overcrowded camps.

The average stay in a refugee camp is 17 years.

If all efforts to return home or resettle in the country of asylum have failed, resettlement in a third nation, such as the US, becomes an option.

UNHCR, H. Caux

How do refugees come to the US?

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the international designee of refugee status. UNHCR refers about 1% of refugees for resettlement in a third country each year.

� Refugees are interviewed and registered through UNHCR. They undergo a variety of security and medical screenings.

� They are granted refugee status while they are still overseas.

How do refugees come to the US?

After UNHCR interviews, the US Department of Homeland Security interviews and screens all refugees who may be coming to the US.

� Unlike immigrants that choose to come to the US, refugees are invited by our government.� They have the right to legally live and work in the US.

If the refugee is accepted, he or she is assigned to a Voluntary Agencies (VOLAG) to assist with resettlement.

Refugee journeyRefugee flees country of origin

↓

Registers with UNHCR

↓

Requests 3rd Country Resettlement

↓

Referred to State Department

for U.S. Resettlement

↓

Security Screenings/

Medical Screenings

↓

Referred to Agency

↓

Arrival in Atlanta with VOLAG

Statistics

� FY 2012Presidential Determination for US:

73,000 to 76,000 refugees

Estimate of Georgia arrivals: 2,800 refugees

� FY 2013Presidential Determination for US:

67,000 to 70,000 refugees

Prediction of Georgia arrivals:2,600-2,800 refugees

Where do they resettle?

Georgia is one of the top ten states for refugee resettlement.

Over the last 20 years, Georgia has

resettled 50,000 refugees from

all over the world.

Atlanta’s refugees

� Atlanta’s refugees have come from many places:

Afghanistan Iran

Armenia Iraq

Bhutan Liberia

Bosnia Mauritania

Burma / Myanmar Nigeria

Cameroon Sierra Leone

Colombia Somalia

Cuba Sudan

D.R. Congo Russia

Ethiopia Togo

Eritrea Uruguay

Gambia Venezuela

Haiti Vietnam

Voluntary Agencies

Voluntary Agencies (or VOLAGS) that resettle refugees in Atlanta include:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC)

World Relief

Jewish Family and Career Services

Lutheran Services of Georgia

Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services of Atlanta (RRISA)

Catholic Charities Atlanta

Role of the Resettlement Agency

Each refugee receives a case worker to ensure that basic

services are provided. Specifically:

� A ride from the airport to their living quarters� Decent, safe, and sanitary housing� Social security card� Assistance applying for benefits including Medicaid� A minimum of 2 home visits� Assistance enrolling in English classes� Cultural Orientation� Essential furnishing� Food� Necessary clothing� Health screening, immunization� School registration for all school-age children� Assistance enrolling in employment programs

CostsFinancial Assistance for Refugee Resettlement Program (from Deptartment of State)

� Federal Provision: $925 per person (one time allotment)

� Reception and Placement $ available for family of 4: $ 3,700.00

� Example of Expenditures for a family of 4:

� Beds (2 twin sets + frame and 1 full set + frame) $ 274.00

� Apartment Rent (1 month) $ 665.00

� Water Bill (1 month) $ 40.00

� Electricity Deposit (GA Power) $ 150.00

� Electricity Connection Fee $ 30.00

� Electric Bill (1 month) $ 60.00

� Food (in kitchen upon move-in) $ 90.00

� Food Allowance ($30/person/week, 3 weeks) $ 360.00

� Pocket Money $ 40.00

� Metro PCS Phone + 30 days of service $ 87.00

� Household Items (pillows, dish detergent, broom) $ 98.00

� MARTA Cards for family for first 30 days $ 190.00

Total spent within first 30 days of arrival $ 2,057.00

� Two additional months of rent $ 1,330.00

� Two additional months of utilities $ 218.00

� One additional MARTA card $ 95.00

Goal

� Our goal is to assist each client and family navigate systems in the United States to become self sufficient.

� We support and educate so that our clients have the tools they need to be successful.

Documentation

Transition to US citizen

� A refugee cannot:

� Obtain a US passport

� Join the military

� Vote in elections

� Be employed in government jobs that require US citizenship

� Travel outside of the US without permission from USCIS

Permanent residency

� After being in the United States for one year, refugees apply for permanent residency (“green card”). This replaces the I-94 document.

� Permanent residents can:

� travel overseas

(but not for more than 6 months)

� Join the US military

� Permanent residents cannot:

� Vote in US elections

� Work for a foreign government

� Hold government jobs that require US citizenship

US Citizenship

� After 5 years (from arrival date), a person can apply for citizenship.

� MUST:� Be at least 18 years old

� Be a person of good moral character,

able to read, write, and speak basic English,

agree to adhere to and abide by principles

of the Constitution

� Be a lawful permanent resident

� Have been physically present in the

US for half the time specified to meet the residence requirement.

May not be absent from the US for a continuous period of 6 months or more

Benefit eligibility

� Upon arrival:

� VOLAGS provide Reception and Placement Services to refugees for up to 90 days

� Refugees are eligible for an early self sufficiency program thatprovides financial and employment assistance for up to 6 months

� Refugees are eligible for Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medicaid for up to 8 months

� State sponsored refugee-specific programs serve refugees for up to 5 years

Refugees, like Americans, are also able to receive other benefits for which they qualify (WIC, SNAP, TANF, LIHEAP).

Importance of knowing your clients

� Now you know the process of how refugees come to the United States.

� Sometimes, cultural and linguistic barriers make the transition to the US challenging.

Cultural backgrounds

Burma / Myanmar (next to Thailand)

Why they left:

Civil War between military regime and ethnic minorities. Many fled to Thailand (refugee camps) or to Malaysia.

Burmese refugees

Highlights:

• Most in Georgia are Chin or Karen (ethnic groups).

• Some families speak Burmese, but many do not.

• Chin has over 50 languages, and Karen has 3.

• They do not have family names, so every member of the family will have a different last name.

• Most have 3 names and go by all 3.

• In their cultures, they only eat 2 meals a day.

Ethnicity: Karen

Three main Karen languages:

� Eastern Pwo Karen� Western Pwo Karen� S'ghaw Karen (most common)

� A small percentage speak Thai

� For interpretation purposes, always clarify precisely what language a client speaks.

Be careful not to confuse “Karen” and “Korean.”

Ethnicity: Chin

� Chin has over 50 languages.

� 80% of Chin also speak Burmese.

� Chin people identify themselves by their individual tribe:

Asho, Cho, Khumi, Kuki, Laimi, Lushai, Zomi

� For interpretation purposes, always clarify

precisely what language a client speaks.

Education and schooling

� Education is highly respected and valued.

� Most children attend school in refugee camps.� Some opportunities to learn English

� Older refugees as teachers

� Nursery, primary,

secondary, and

post-secondary schools

� Textbooks: updated

frequently, relevant to

camp life

Religion

Five known religious beliefs:

� Animism, Buddhism, Christianity, Lehkai, Telahkon

� Majority are Christian, Buddhist, or Animist.

� Even for those identifying as Christian, they may also have traditional beliefs (such as illness is caused by “bad spirits”).

Death and funerals:

� Burial: Christian

� Cremation: Buddhists and Animists

Health and illness

Burmese people are mostly from rural areas. They may be embarrassed and hesitant to tell information to their health care providers, and this may be true especially for female patients.

Most Burmese refugees agree with and accept theWestern health care system andpractices, but some are hesitant tovisit American doctors.

Karen culture

Cultural practices

The clay-looking face cream is called Thanaka, worn by Karen women and children as sunblock and makeup.

Burmese refugees in Thailand

Burmese refugees in Thailand

Burmese refugees in Thailand

Burmese refugees in Thailand

Cultural backgrounds

Bhutan (next to Nepal)

Why they left: Bhutanese ruler established new policies against Nepali people living in the South.

Forcibly evicted from Bhutan and sent to camps in Nepal. These refugees have been there for ~20 years.

Bhutanese refugees

Highlights:

• Many Bhutanese fast twice a month

• Many are Hindu, so they do not eat beef

• The head is considered holy

Education

� Many Bhutanese refugees speak some English

� Some have advanced degrees from Nepali universities

� Refugees in the camps

value education but

do not see the ways

to apply of acquired

knowledge.

Religion

� Hinduism is practiced by majority

� Many are vegetarian for religious purposes.

� Fasting is important throughout the year.

� Death:

� Formal mourning: 13 days—Some Nepali have lost their jobs after taking time off to observe the mourning period

� Ritual mourning activities assist in the purification of the deceased’s soul.

Health and illness

� Limited understanding of value of preventive health care

� Sickness: imbalance of passions or influence of evil spirits

� Traditional healers preferred to Western doctors

� Home remedies

� External medical help: if symptoms worsen or do not resolve

Health and illness

� Confusion and frustration around American system of health care

� Required appointments

� “Rushed” or “impatient” providers

� Expiration of resettlement benefits

� Expensive private insurance

� Cultural stigma associated with mental illness

Childcare and family

� Traditionally, marriages were arranged.� Fading due to Western influences, displacement and refugee

status, and improved female education

� “Love marriages”

� Traditional weddings are great celebrations.

� The average family size ranges 6-8 children.

� The community is very tightly knit.� The elders are deeply respected.

� Family issues, health problems, and financial issues are first discussed with the elders in the family.

Cultural practices

� Extended family lives together with immediate family

� The younger generation assumes the responsibility of

caring for elderly relatives

� It is customary to remove shoes upon entering a house

and consider it good manners to offer tea to any guest.

Bhutanese refugees in Nepal

Bhutanese refugees in Nepal

Bhutanese refugees in Nepal

Bhutanese refugees in Nepal

Bhutanese refugees in Nepal

Cultural norms for many refugee groups

� Direct eye contact:

not considered polite (sign of equal status).

� Direct speech: considered rude.

Some find American directness,

loud speech, and body language

uncomfortable.

� Q&A: not culturally appropriate

to volunteer information.

Ask open-ended questions.

� Personal problems: culturally

expected to solve problems alone.

Children may not report bullying at school, and the same for adult victims of other abuse.

Greetings / respect for many refugee groups

� They might shake with their right hand, supporting the right forearm with the left hand as it is a sign of respect to use both hands to shake.

� Many walk behind elders or those who are senior to them.

� Many do not walk in front of those who are seated. They walk behind them or ask for permission first.

� Many do not cross their legs while seated to show respect.

� Folding one's arms in front of oneself when talking to another is a sign of respect.

Respect / etiquette for many refugee groups

� Pointing with fingers and touching the head is considered disrespectful.

� When handing something to someone, it is respectful to use two hands rather than one.

� It is customary to remove one’s shoes before entering a home.

� Saying “no” is often a way of being modest. � This is important, because clients may not directly inform you

if their needs are not being met or if they disagree.

Recommendations

� Understand refugees’ journey and be sensitive to their problems.

� Remember that the process of learning English and adjusting to America takes time.

� Educate yourself on your clients’ cultures to better serve them.

� Do not assume anything.

� Some refugees are educated but may not speak or read English.

Recommendations

� Interpretation refers to the spoken language, while translation refers to the written word.� Sometimes clients cannot read/write in their native language, so documents

must be explained to them by an interpreter.

� Make sure you know which specific language a refugee client speaks to get the right interpreter.

� Do not use children, family members, or community members as interpreters—professional interpreters are best.

� When working with interpreters, look at the client—not the interpreter.

� Speak slowly and take breaks so that the interpreter has time tointerpret.

Reminder

� It is important to remember that we serve individuals, not countries. The information we have provided here is intended to prepare and inform you about some of the clients you may serve.

� Everyone’s experience isdifferent, and you cannotassume that experienceswith one client will applyto another from the samecountry or region.

10 minute break

Activity

Transition to life in the USFor families that have only known village life and refugee camps, the transition

to the United States can be challenging.

• How to lock doors

• How to use modern appliances (bathrooms, washing machines, stoves)

• How to operate in a kitchen (what goes in the refrigerator vs. freezer)

• Basic hygiene

• Making appointments

• Laws

• Language

No control to total control

� Many refugees have never had control of their own lives.

� In refugee camps, they were told how much food they would receive and when. They were told where they could and could not go. They were told that they could not work.

� “I went to downtown Atlanta, and no one asked me who I was or where I was going. I feel like I had been living in a prison. I feel free in this country.”� newly arrived refugee from Eritrea (eastern Africa)

� To suddenly have control over your entire life can be overwhelming.

School

For school aged children, some refugee students do not have experience:

• Using pencils, crayons, scissors• Sitting at a desk all day• Playing outside for ‘recess’• Interacting with teachers that do not yell or hit

Refugee parents:• Sometimes have not been to school themselves, so communicating

with teachers is uncomfortable• Language barriers require the need for interpretation

� Sometimes traumatic events and difficulty adjusting to American culture can manifest as behavioral issues.

Childcare

� Large families: many children,

extended families

(relatives, grandparents)

� Children are watched by

everyone in the community.

� It is common for their children to run through villages and refugee camps safely.

� Older children take care of younger siblings and have household responsibilities.

Older youth

� In refugee camps, there are few consequences for not doing “what you’re supposed to do.”

� Many teenage refugees are not used to school attendance requirements, curfews, and laws relating to juveniles.

Cultural adjustments

� Most refugees are more conscious of people than of time.

� They will give preference to current activities, especially guests and socialization.

� Strict schedules are difficult to adhere to.

� Making long range plans and setting goals are new concepts. As a rule, they will take life as it happens to them.

Mental health

� Because of the trauma that refugees have endured, some experience psychological and emotional problems.

� In their home country

� Torture, abuse, intimidation, restricted rights

� Fleeing to another country/refugee camp

� violence

� Moving to the US

� Additionally, refugees have preexisting mental health concerns just like the mainstream population.

Domestic Violence considerations

A pattern of coercive behavior that is used by one person to gain power and control over another.

Also known as intimate partner violence.

Types of Domestic Violence

� Physical or sexual violence

� Verbal or emotional abuse

� Emotional or psychological intimidation

� Stalking

� Economic abuse

National context

Sources: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Barriers for refugee women

� Cultural norms

� Language

� Mistrust of legal system

� Fear of deportation

� Fear for survival

Sources of Domestic Violence

� In the country of origin

� In the country of first refuge/asylum

� After arriving in the United States

Stress of resettlement� Depression

� Feelings of isolation or powerlessness

� Awakening memories of violence

� Adjustment to new family dynamics

Refugee Family Violence Prevention Project

Refugee Family Violence Prevention Project

� Community Outreach and Education

� Intervention Services

� Advocacy

Assistance to access mainstream services

Considerations

� Location of services

� Need for interpretation

� Community response

Additional resources

� Georgia Coalition of Refugee Stakeholders:

� http://garefugees.wordpress.com/

� Links to:

� VOLAGS

� DeKalb County Board of Health Refugee Services

� refugee-serving agencies

� ethnic-based organizations

� programs and services specific to refugees

� events, newsletters, resources

Additional resources

� The Refugee Organizing in Action Network (ROA)

� Resource Book: http://www.refugeefamilyservices.org/images/uploads/ROAResourceBooklet_(3).pdf

� Information on agency services for referral purposes

ROA Resource Book

Case Study

Positive conclusion

� Productive members of the community

� Cultural and economic contributions

� Business owners

� Home owners

Questions?

Thank You!

� Please complete an evaluation, and leave it on your table.