Refugee Health Program: About Refugee Health and the Program
Alternative Immigration Pathways and Welcome Corps
In the past, refugee resettlement programs have been the only path for immigrants to arrive in Wisconsin. Watch a recording (opens external video) of Savitri Tsering, Wisconsin's Refugee Health Coordinator, present on two new immigration pathways that have welcomed newcomers to Wisconsin since 2021.
About the Refugee Health Program
Wisconsin’s Refugee Health Program works with refugee resettlement agencies, local health departments, and private health care providers. Together they:
- Make sure refugees receive a full health exam when they get to the U.S.
- Coordinate refugee health screenings with federal and state resettlement partners.
- Help screening providers understand the health needs of refugee populations.
- Support culturally informed care. Advocate for the use of qualified medical interpreters.
- Coordinate refugee health concerns with other programs within the Division of Public Health (DPH).
People who can get the health screening include:
- Refugees.
- Asylees.
- Cuban/Haitian entrants.
- Victims of trafficking.
- Amerasians.
- Afghan or Ukrainian humanitarian parolees.
- Special Immigrant Visa holders.
Who are refugees?
A refugee is defined by the 1951 Refugee
What is refugee health?
Refugee health includes all the unique barriers and solutions to quality care for refugees. It also means making sure those who resettle in the U.S. access recommended medical care.
Before getting to the U.S, refugees must have an overseas panel physician
- Obtaining refugee medical screening.
- Finding temporary and long-term care and health insurance.
- Learning about language and cultural differences.
- Identifying and treating health complications specific to the refugee experience (e.g., trauma, disruption of care, etc.).
Refugee health care requires specialized efforts. These efforts help to ensure health equity for those who resettle in our country. In Wisconsin, this includes providing:
- Trauma- and culturally informed care.
- Oral health promotion.
- Support for victims of human trafficking and female genital mutilation.
How Does the U.S. Refugee System
A Refugee’s Journey to the United States
A Refugee’s Journey to the United States
U.S. Refugee Admissions
U.S. Refugee Resettlement
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Information on
Who are Refugees and How Do They Arrive in the United
Refugee medical screening is a thorough physical exam. It includes comprehensive screening for diseases that can be spread from person to person.
The screening aims to:
- Follow-up on any medical issues found in the refugee’s overseas medical screening.
- Identify diseases that can spread quickly from person to person in close quarters in large groups.
- Find personal health conditions that could make it difficult for a refugee to resettle.
- Connect refugees to a primary care provider for ongoing health care.
For more information, please visit our Refugee Health: Medical Screening page.
Refugees and other visa holders may apply for a green card (adjustment of status) in the United States. They are required to undergo an immigration medical examination. The examination must be done by a doctor who is designated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
USCIS designates certain doctors (known as civil surgeons) to perform the immigration medical examination required for most green card applicants.
Please see USCIS's
There are several health concerns, both acute and chronic, that may arise through the refugee experience and which are often seen within resettled groups. These specific areas include but are not limited to:
- Chronic illness not treatable during migration.
- Infectious disease that is made worse by living in close quarters in large groups.
- Mental health illness resulting from flight, migration, and/or resettlement.
- Neglected dental and eye care.
For specific medical concerns, see our Refugee Health: For Health Professionals page. There you can find several resources for:
- Dental care.
- Medical screening.
- Trauma-informed mental health care.
Refugee Cash and Medical
Income Maintenance and Tribal Agency Contact Information—Information on how to access Medicaid benefits within Wisconsin.
Who to contact for help
Questions?
- Email dhswitbprogram@
dhs.wisconsin.gov . - Call 608-261-6319.
- Fax 608-266-0049.