Oral Health & Refugees

Larry Cronyn
Tarek Hussein
Maria Mangine
Sara Perrone
Abby Scanlan

Refugees

A sub-category of immigrants
Defined by 1951 Geneva Convention
Status granted by UN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:
Have to have crossed Intl borders
Unhcr_logo.jpg
Left because of targeted violence (religion, ethnic,
political, etc.)
Can not return for fear of death, persecution, torture
Legal in this country

Buffalo Refugee Population

Buffalo is the largest re-settler city of refugees in NYS,
3rd in the nation
Entry-level resettlement agencies find jobs within 90
days
Cheap housing (esp. West-side of Buffalo)
Cost of living is low
Refugees are an asset to the city
Consumer base, taxes, business
start-ups, increasing neighborhood
safety
Image source: http://www.asiwny.org/funder-recognition/

Iraqi Refugees
Displaced by war and current upheaval in region
Millions displaced, approx. 85,000 have entered US since 2007
Most are highly educated and skilled

Image Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/iraq-turmoil/refugee-crisis-overruns-iraqi-resources-contractors-evacuate-n130121

Iraqi Refugees
Face tremendous obstacles in gaining entry to US and other
host countries
Resettle in urban centers across the world, and refugee
camps in neighboring countries
Must rebuild their lives in new, unfamiliar cities like Buffalo

Image source: http://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2014/jun/27/looking-back-iraqi-refugees-in-pictures

Barriers to Dental Care

Lack of access to preventative and restorative dental care
Lack of interpretation in dental settings
Unfamiliarity with dangers of western diet on oral health
(e.g. high sugar foods)
Socioeconomic status

Strategy
Location
West Side of Buffalo, NY - easier access for
refugee population, proximity to Jericho
Road
Open venue - school gym

Mobile dental units and chairs

easier to move venue if needed, less need
for permanent location

Strategy
Procedures
cleanings, operative, extractions (if truly
needed), referrals (pro bono), EDUCATION
chances of return visits?

Frequency
Monthly, weekend

Volunteers
Our practice (initially)

How to reach Iraqi population

Zayn = liaison to Iraqi community
Spread word about our work and mission
Give pamphlets to community members
Visit Iraqi community prior to outreach
Bring Zayn with us
Encourage people to come for treatment
Emphasis on where we will be and on what days

Expansion to other refugee

populations
Jericho Road Community Health Center
Refugees seeking medical attention come here
Gain trust more easily if endorsed by Jericho Road

http://www.jrm-buffalo.org/

Communication
Interpreter
Telephone Interpreter
MediBabble

Communication through Interpreters

Who CAN interpret

Who CANT interpret

On staff interpreters
Telephone interpreters
Trained volunteers

Patients friends &

family
Children under 18
Other patients
Untrained volunteers

Effective Interpreting

Get to know your interpreter (pre-session)

Always speak to the patient, not the interpreter
Speak slowly, at an even pace, and more loudly
Do not hold the interpreter responsible for what the
patient says or doesnt say
Many concepts you might express have no linguistic or
conceptual equivalence
Encourage the interpreter to ask questions about the
patients culture/heritage

http://refugeehealthnetwork.org.au/refer/interpreters/

MediBabble

http://medibabble.com/screenshots.html

What We Will Need

Mobile dental units including
chairs, x-ray equipment, and
handpieces.
Materials such as
composites, cotton roles,
anesthetic etc
Educational materials for
distribution
Dental staff
http://img.chinamedevice.

Starting Budget
Item

Qty Needed

Cost

Funding

Mobile Unit

6,000 ea

John Oshei Foundation Grant

Dental Chair

2,000 ea

World Dental Relief Donation

X-Ray Unit

2,000 ea

World Dental Relief Donation

Labor

N/A

Volunteers/ Office staff

Supplies

N/A

N/A

Smiles Across America Donors

Total

20,000

Before donations

Total After Donations

12,000

Needed in Grant Money

How we will get it

Our staff and colleagues in the area.
Journeys End Refugee Services has translators who are
well versed in the medical field and fluent in Arabic.
John R. Oishei Foundation is the largest private
foundation in WNY and mainly concerned with
providing grants to organizations providing health,
education and social services in the community.
World Dental Relief (WDR) organizes mission trips
around the world.
Smiles Across America is a donation project that
obtains product donations for non-profit organizations
providing oral health care to underserved populations.

Funding for continued growth

After achieving success in the Iraqi refugee community
we want to expand to serve refugees from other areas
here in Buffalo.
To do this we will work with the Jericho House to hold
fundraisers like the Gala they are holding for
international outreach and utilize their network of
donors.

References

http://oralhealthamerica.org/resources/saa-product-donation-project/
http://www.worlddentalrelief.com/about.htm
http://www.jersbuffalo.org/index.php/services/category/interpreting_services
http://www.oishei.org/index.php/what-we-fund/promoting-health-and-improving-systems
http://www.jrm-buffalo.org/
Lischer, Sarah Kenyon. "Security and Displacement in Iraq: Responding to the Forced Migration Crisis".
International Security 33 (2): 95115.
Mowafi H, Spiegel P. The Iraqi Refugee Crisis: Familiar Problems and New Challenges. JAMA. 2008; 299(14):
1713-1715. doi:10.1001/jama.299.14.1713
http://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-asylum/refugees/iraqi-refugee-processing-fact-sheet
Refugee resettlement in Buffalo: http://www.iibuff.org/index.php?
submenu=RefugeeServices&src=gendocs&ref=ResettlementProgram&category=RefugeeServices
http://refugeehealthta.org/access-to-care/language-access/best-practices-communicating-through-aninterpreter/