Case Management and Health Case Management

Case Management

Case Management and Cultural Adjustment - Caseworkers assist refugees with the transition to a new life in their communities and make referrals to appropriate services. These services may include WIC, Commodity Foods, Fuel Assistance, Head Start, Children’s Health Access Project (Healthy Kids), and Subsidized Housing.

LSS staff offers expanded cultural orientation sessions that may include information on public and private services including public transportation, police departments, banks, schools, mental health services and others as needed.

LSS staff also offer local community members cultural /ethnic/religious orientation on incoming refugee populations

Health Case Management

Health Services and Health Case Management - Refugees often have extensive health care needs. The health services office arranges the following services for newly arrived refugees: medical appointments, professional translation services by culturally and linguistically appropriate staff, transportation and follow-up services.

These services are available to all new refugees, but each family is encouraged to become self-sufficient in this process.

Orientation topics that are covered by the staff include: an overview of the U.S. health care system, preventive health care, medical referrals, medical insurance plans, emergency health care and use of the emergency room, and issues surrounding prescriptions.

The Health Education Project in MA provides technical assistance to teachers to incorporate health topics such as food and nutrition, personal hygiene, smoking cessation, safety hazards in the workplace, stress management, health care from the family perspective, and accessing health care services. Health education extends more deeply into the community through linkages with public school health educators, community health centers and other adult education providers.