Planning an International Refugee Health Research, Evaluation, and Ethics Committee
By Colleen Payton PhD MPH CPH MCHES & Gayathri S. Kumar MD CPH CCTP C-IAYT
Individuals who support refugee and other newcomer populations through providing resettlement services, social services, and medical care can benefit from collaboration with each other. Resettlement and social services—typically administered by resettlement agencies (with occasional support by community-based organizations and volunteers) and now private sponsorship groups—are provided within the first 90 days after arrival. Resettlement and social services include cultural orientation, English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, housing assistance, employment assistance, and school enrollment. The domestic medical exam is conducted by local health departments and/or medical screening clinics and usually occurs within 30 to 90 days after arrival. The domestic medical exam includes immunizations and screening and initial management of infectious diseases and non-communicable conditions. Researchers are studying the prevalence of health conditions and the effectiveness of services provided among newcomer populations in order to continually improve services and health outcomes. The Research, Evaluation, and Ethics Committee of the Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers facilitates research collaboration and is a source of research expertise and support. Members created a logic model to strategically plan future research in refugee and newcomer health in addition to ensure ethical research practices.
Who are refugees?
Refugees are people who have faced persecution or have a fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a social group. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that there were 103 million people forcibly displaced in 2022, including 32.5 million refugees. The countries that refugees originate from can vary from year to year. In 2022, the top countries of origin included the Syrian Arab Republic, Venezuela, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and South Sudan. Most refugees are hosted in neighboring countries (or countries of asylum), and few return home. Refugee resettlement is the relocation of refugees from a country of asylum to a third country like the United States. Less than 1% of refugees are resettled to third countries. Each year, the president of the United States determines the number of refugees that could be admitted during the following year. Refugees are a heterogeneous group who have diverse lived experiences and oftentimes unique health needs, which should be considered when providing healthcare and developing health programs to support healthy resettlement in the United States.
Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers
The SRHP is a professional organization dedicated to improving health outcomes for refugees, asylees, and other newcomers in North America. The SRHP educates healthcare professionals, shares resources, and advocates for health policies and programs that support newcomers. SRHP members include physicians, physician associates, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, resettlement workers, public health professionals, researchers, and students. Each year, SRHP members gather together for the North American Refugee Health Conference. Healthcare professionals working with newcomer populations benefit from networking, strengthening or establishing collaborations, additional training, and knowledge-sharing on best practices and lessons learned in supporting the health of newcomers.
SRHP Research, Evaluation, and Ethics Committee
In 2018, the SRHP started their first committee titled the Research, Evaluation, and Ethics Committee. Members of the committee have expertise in topics like the social determinants of health, communicable and non-communicable disease, epidemiology, women’s health, and pediatric health. They also have expertise in skills such as study design, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, writing publications, clinical care, institutional review board proposals, and research methods focused on newcomer community engagement. The committee developed a strategic plan to organize the work of the committee and subcommittees in the short term, intermediate term, and long term.
The committee has three main subcommittees including the Research Agenda Subcommittee, the Ethics Subcommittee, and the Refugee Review Board. The Research Agenda Subcommittee was formed to create a prioritized plan for refugee health research and increase research collaboration, especially across multiple sites and states. The Ethics Subcommittee was formed to guide the work of those working with refugees to ensure ethical practices, including ethical research practices. The Refugee Review Board consists of formerly resettled refugees who provide feedback to refugee health professionals to ensure that research activities align with priorities identified within refugee communities.
Welcome refugees in your community
Are you interested in learning more about refugees and welcoming newcomers in your community? If so, below are some ways that you can get involved.
Stay informed about refugees and read more about their stories
Honor refugees on World Refugee Day held on June 20th every year
Donate money or fundraise to provide to a local refugee resettlement organization
Donate items to your local resettlement organizations such as toiletries, furniture for refugees’ new homes, and backpacks for children going to school
Vote for policies that support programs and resources for newcomers
Volunteer with a refugee resettlement organization in your local community
Volunteer with refugee-serving organizations, such as refugee health clinics or community-based organizations, if you have a specific talent or skill to offer
Hire refugees within your company
Host refugee families within your home
Become a member of the Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers
Attend the North American Refugee Health Conference
Article Details
A Logic Model Framework for Planning an International Refugee Health Research, Evaluation, and Ethics Committee
Colleen Payton, PhD, MPH, Gayathri S. Kumar, MD, Sarah Kimball, MD, Sarah K. Clarke, MSPH, Ibrahim AlMasri, MD, and Fatima M. Karaki, MD
First published online September 19, 2021
DOI: 10.1177/15248399211035703
Health Promotion Practice
About the Authors
