The County of Santa Clara’s Refugee Health Assessment Program play an important role in providing healthcare services to newly arrived refugees, asylees, humanitarian parolees, special immigrant visa (SIV) holders, and victims of human trafficking.
For the individuals and families they serve, the program is the first stop for medical care after a long and difficult journey fleeing from violence and danger.
The Refugee Health Assessment Program (RHAP) is comprised of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, LVNs, and RHAP intake staff who provide care to families and individuals before they are connected to a primary care physician. The program provides comprehensive health assessment, orientation, health screenings, adult immunizations, mental health assessment (in partnership with AACI), prescriptions, assistance in selecting primary care providers, and referrals to appropriate services. Co-located with TB Clinic at Valley Health Center Lundy, there is ease of access to lab, x-ray, and pharmacy.
While the program’s focus is connecting their patients to care, the staff do their best to support them however they need.
Jahannaz Afshar, the program’s medical translator, intakes newly arrived individuals and families and identifies medical and other needs that need to be addressed. The program’s welcome packet, which is given to everyone as part of their first appointment, includes a comprehensive list of community resources.
“We are very patient-centered in our approach,” Jahannaz said. “The families we serve all have their unique needs and we provide support based on what they need.”
Valley Health Foundation helps to support their efforts by providing essential items and assistance with groceries and transportation. The program also partnered with Valley Health Foundation (VHF) to make their space more welcoming to families, including adding interactive toys and vibrant colors throughout the space and providing activities and snacks for children during their appointments.
Jahannaz shares how excited a child was after his family received a hygiene kit donated by VHF. He held his toothpaste for the rest of the appointment and kept showing it to his parents and saying, “This is mine!” He also received toys, but it meant more to him to have his own toothbrush and toothpaste.
Another patient shared with her in tears that she couldn’t remember a time when she had her own soap and shampoo.
To Jahannaz, it is a reminder that these “small” things are not so small for their patients, who are working to rebuild their lives in a new country.
Assistance with transportation has also been vital, helping to ensure patients can get to their appointments and receive urgent or emergent care.
Your gift to Valley Health Foundation helps to support programs like the Refugee Health Assessment Program. Thank you!
