Multicultural Health and Human Service Programs in Virginia

Common health problems in selected minority, ethnic, and cultural groups

HHS Plan to reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

LGBT History Month celebrates the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Icons. Each day in October, a new LGBT Icon is featured with a video, bio, bibliography, downloadable images and other resources.

These scholarships are for persons with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder who are currently receiving medical treatment for the illness and are actively involved in rehabilitative or reintegrative efforts. The scholarship supports a wide range of educational opportunities in which students work to attain a certificate or degree.

An association of volunteers whose purpose is to provide support and education to people with mental illnesses (consumers) and their families, and advocacy to the community, including public officials, to ensure that consumers are afforded opportunities to live, work, learn and participate fully in their communities, free of stigma, and fully enjoying their human rights. NAMI-NoVA is dedicated to promoting public awareness of mental illness and advancing the provision of best practices and favorable outcomes which support the integration of people diagnosed with mental illness into the fabric of society, promoting the self-determination, hopes and well being of individuals and their families.

National Call to Action to Eliminate Health Care Disparities: We have seen the headlines that bring attention to the multiple societal factors that affect disparities in care, including environmental and other social determinants. Add the facts that racial and ethnic minorities currently represent one-third of the U.S. population and will become a majority of the population in 2042. Not withstanding these societal issues, health care leaders possess a great opportunity to affect disparities using three core elements

Code of Virginia §37.2-315 requires that DBHDS produce a six-year Comprehensive State Plan for mental health, intellectual disabilities, and substance abuse services every two years. By statute, the Comprehensive State Plan must identify the services and supports needs of persons with mental illnesses, mental retardation, or substance use disorders across the Commonwealth; define resource requirements; and propose strategies to address these needs. The Comprehensive State Plan for 2014-2020 is based on the initiatives and activities that have been established in our strategic plan, Creating Opportunities: A Plan for Advancing Community-Focused Services in Virginia. Review of and input to The Comprehensive State Plan was sought from a wide range of stakeholders.

2-1-1 is an easy to remember phone number connecting people with free information on available community services. When you dial 2-1-1, a trained professional will listen to your situation and suggest sources of help using one of the largest databases of health and human services in Virginia. Nonprofit organizations and federal, state and local government agencies are included in the database and you can access services in your community and statewide.

The AABAC provides technical assistance and support services to Asian newcomers ( refugees and immigrants) in the areas of education and training, English as a second language, relocation, immigrant entrepreneurship development, multilingual community, health resources, and business information and referral, and cross-cultural counseling. The AABAC has offices in Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, Charlottesville, Virginia Beach, and Front Royal

Provides assistance and support services to Vietnamese refugees and immigrants, including community development, health and mental health, family, legal, and survivor services for those who have been involved in domestic violence and human trafficking. Has offices throughout the U.S

Guide to Serving Farmworkers in the Commonwealth of Virginia: 2008 – 2009 Edition

Su Familia offers free reliable and confidential health information in Spanish and English. Call toll free Monday through Friday 9 am to 6 pm Eastern Standard Time. Our bilingual health information specialists will provide you with basic health information on a wide range of health topics and can refer you to a health care provider in your community.

Commonwealth Catholic Charities resettles refugees, provides immigration counseling, interpreter services, and school liaison support to refugee populations in the Richmond, Hampton Roads, and Roanoke regions.

The Virginia Board of Medicine Practitioner Information database has an advanced search engine that allows you to search for physicians based on location, profession, specialty area, hospital affiliation(s), and non-English languages spoken by the doctor or office staff.

The objective of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Newcomer Health Program is to identify and eliminate health related barriers to the successful resettlement of Virginia’s refugee population while protecting the health of the U.S. population. This program coordinates and facilitates initial health assessments for all newly arriving immigrants with a refugee or asylum status, which includes the identification of those with tuberculosis (TB).

The MHN is a part of Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems, Inc. the MHN provides basic health services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families in Southwest Virginia. Services include

Commonwealth Catholic Charities resettles refugees, provides immigration counseling, interpreter services, and school liaison support to refugee populations in the Richmond, Hampton Roads, and Roanoke regions.

VALHEN works with students and higher education institutions to improve access and retention for Latino students. Their Hispanic College Institute offers a stay at VA Tech, interaction with Hispanic college students, and follow up assistance with applications and financial matters.

This guide, compiled by the Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center, lists the services offered, eligibility requirements, interpreter status, hours and contact information for health and human service providers in the City of Harrisonburg.

An inter-agency and inter-community network for issues related to the Latino/Hispanic community in Charlottesville City, Albemarle County and surrounding areas. The website includes resource guides on health and human service providers who speak Spanish in the service area as well as information relating to the Health Promoter Working Group.

Full medical services are offered by practitioners who have experience caring for international patients. The clinic director has worked with immigrant and refugee populations for over 15 years.

The IRC provides case management, employment, language access, ESL, family support, financial literacy and immigration assistance to refugees and asylees. The IRC has a regional office in Charlottesville, VA.

Promotoras de Salud is a project of the Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center (BRAHEC). The mission of the Promotoras project is to promote healthy living among the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County area’s Hispanic residents. It trains Hispanic lay health promoters (promotoras) to promote healthy living through health education contacts within the local Hispanic communities. Additionally, the promotoras provide information about how to access community health and human service resources.

BPSOS provides assistance and support services to Vietnamese refugees and immigrants, including community development, health and mental health, family, legal, and survivor services for those who have been involved in domestic violence and human trafficking. BPSOS has offices in a variety of locations throughout the U.S. Its headquarters are in Falls Church, VA.

The ECDC provides a helping hand to bring hope, workable solutions, and opportunities to the lives of refugees. ECDC offers educational and social service programs (including health promotion activities) to help newcomers resettle in their new communities and acculturate; recover from past trauma; and gain personal independence and economic self-sufficiency. Its headquarters are in Arlington, VA.

“Humanitarian organization that provides immediate funding, training, education, medication, transportation and information to those who may be ineligible or simply unable to access local, state or federal resources due to such obstacles as cultural and language barriers.”

The Multicultural Center offers health, mental health, legal, case management and employment services provided by multi-ethnic and multilingual staff. Special services are provided for victims of torture and severe trauma.

Hispanic Institute for Blindness Prevention, Inc. (HIBP) is a 501.c.3, non – profit organization based in Virginia whose mission is to contribute to lowering the risk of blindness of the population of all ages, by focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on the underserved families, minorities and other groups whom are more likely to be at a higher risk of eye and eye-related diseases.

The KCSC’s mission is to assist and empower Asian Americans and new immigrants to become well-adjusted and fully contributing members of the United States through social services, education, health promotion, advocacy, and development of resources.

The mission of the KHRW is to enable Iraqi, Kurdish, Iranian, and other refugees and homeless persons to achieve self-sufficiency and human rights. The KHRW has a branch office in Fairfax, VA that offers transitional housing and support services, individual development account and micro-enterprise assistance, language assistance services, family enrichment programs, and social services.

The Arlington Diocese Refugee Service Office offers services in five sites throughout Northern Virginia. At each of the sites, a comprehensive array of resettlement services are offered to help newcomers become self-sufficient as soon as possible after arrival. Staff members offer case management, social support, language assistance, and employment related services to refugees and asylees

Hogar Immigrant Services offers immigration legal counseling, English instruction, naturalization assistance and citizenship classes to northern Virginia residents.

Nuevo Dia is a 125-day residential and transitional substance abuse treatment program for monolingual Spanish-speaking adults in Northern Virginia. Its objective is to provide addiction education and treatment to clients so that they may achieve a healthy and productive lifestyle.

The goal of LSS is to empower displaced persons to support each other, to better access community services, and to become self-sufficient and active members of their new communities in the greater Washington, DC area. Programs offered include refugee resettlement/social support services, employment and training, and community outreach.

Commonwealth Catholic Charities resettles refugees, provides immigration counseling, interpreter services, and school liaison support to refugee populations in the Richmond, Hampton Roads, and Roanoke regions.

The AABAC provides technical assistance and support services to Asian newcomers ( refugees and immigrants) in the areas of education and training, English as a second language, relocation, immigrant entrepreneurship development, multilingual community, health resources, and business information and referral, and cross-cultural counseling. The AABAC has offices in Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, Charlottesville, Virginia Beach, and Front Royal.

Colaborando Juntos (CJ) is an innovative network of government, nonprofit, faith, private and community volunteers who work with and for the Latino/Hispanic community and its well being. CJ increases public awareness of critical issues by encouraging partnerships and leveraging resources. CJ serves the Central Virginia region. “Colaborando Juntos”…it means working together.

Hispanic Resource Guide: City of Richmond
(Spanish Version)

This guide is intended to inform the Hispanic Community about many of the service-oriented resources in the Richmond area. Many of the places listed in this guide have Spanish-speaking staff. When that is the case, a contact person is provided.

The purpose of this Guide is to provide a practical tool for community health care professionals to use in their work by assisting in cataloguing key provider and patient resources and services.

Commonwealth Catholic Charities resettles refugees, provides immigration counseling, interpreter services, and school liaison support to refugee populations in the Richmond, Hampton Roads, and Roanoke regions.

This English/Spanish guide, compiled by the Network for Latino People, lists the services offered, services, interpreter availability, hours and contact information for health and human service providers in the Williamsburg, James City County and York County.

Goal The goals of the HHS Promotores de Salud/Community Health Workers Initiative are to Recognize the important contributions of promotoras in reaching vulnerable, low income, and underserved members of Latino/Hispanic populations, and Promote the increased engagement of promotores to support health education and prevention efforts and access to health insurance programs. Promotoras, also known as community health workers, peer leaders, patient navigators or health advocates, play an important role in promoting community-based health education and prevention in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate, particularly in communities and for populations that have been historically underserved and uninsured.