Refugee Advisory Council

DSHS Statewide Refugee Advisory Council welcomes the Tacoma Refugee Choir at the Public Forum on August 9, 2019 in Tacoma. 

The Refugee Advisory Council (RAC) helps ensure the coordination of services for refugees and immigrants and raises awareness of issues that affect refugee and immigrant communities throughout Washington state.

The purpose of the RAC is to:

  • Convey local or regional concerns to DSHS and other state agencies
  • Prioritize refugee-related issues and concerns
  • Provide statewide planning, guidance and recommendations on policies, programs, funding and service delivery for refugees and immigrants
  • Provide information and interpretation of state policies, programs and funding to refugee and immigrant communities

The RAC’s voting members include representatives from each DSHS region of the state. Click here for the list of current Refugee Advisory Council members.

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Refugee Advisory Council Upcoming Quarterly Public Forums

  • October 26, Location: Hybrid - For the In-Person: Spokane, WA

  • Information for the registration will be posted soon.

  • If you need interpretation in a specific language, please indicate that in questions and comments box in the registration link or email to Hamed Hakimkhel

Refugee Advisory Council Past Quarterly Public Forums Materials

July 27, 2023, Virtual Public Forum: Mental Health Programs for Refugees and Newcomers in Washington

  • The agenda included:
     
  • WA State Refugee Resettlement Updates
    • Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
  • Mental Health Updates
    • Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
    • Cathy Vue, Refugee Health and Wellness Program Manager Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
  • Panel Discussion: Mental Health Programs for Refugees and Newcomers in Washington
    • Tamara Cyhan Cunitz, Executive Director, Nashi Immigrants Health Board
    • Oleg Pynda, Executive Director, Ukrainian Community Center of WA (UCCW)
    • Mohammad Safi, Refugee Emotional Wellness Program Coordinator, Refugee Women's Alliance (ReWA)
    • Megan O’Brien, Mental Health Program, Manager, International Rescue Committee (IRC)
  • Local Community Updates
    • Emmanuel N. Muvunyi, Refugee Advisory Council Member, King County, and Deputy Director for Business Operations, International Rescue Committee, WA
  • For the PowerPoint presentations, materials and resources click here.

September 22, 2022, Virtual Public Forum: Employment and Training Programs

  • WA State Refugee Resettlement Updates
  • Health Updates
    • Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
  • DSHS – ORIA funded Employment and Training Programs
    • Jennifer Malloy, Program Administrator, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance
    • McKenzie Nassiri, Program Manager, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance
  • FedEx Career Opportunities Presentation
    • Steven Body, Senior Manager, Facility Operations, FedEx Ground, Kent WA
  • Panel Discussion: Refugee Career Pathway and Career Ladders for Educated and Vocationally Experience Refugees Programs
    • ​Kitty Kitnikone, Workforce Snohomish
    • Linda Faaren, Puget Sound Welcome Back Center at  Highline College
    • Paige Vogel, Jewish Family Service
    • Ginny To, TRAC Associates
    • Bertrand Tabi, World Relief
  • For the PowerPoint presentations and materials click here.
  • For the FedEx PowerPoint presentations click here, this presentation will be available until March 22, 2023

May 24, 2021, Virtual Public Forum: Fatherhood Inclusion and Belonging.

  • WA State Refugee Resettlement Updates
  • Health Updates
    • Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
  • Testimonial of Crisis in Ukraine
    • Tanya Willard - Ukrainian Community, Resettlement Case worker, World Relief, Spokane, WA, 
  • Fatherhood Inclusion and Belonging
  • For the PowerPoint presentations and materials click here.

May 21, 2021, Virtual Public Forum: Rebuilding Refugee Resettlement in Washington State.

  • National Context on Refugee Resettlement,
    • Lawrence Bartlett, Director of Refugee Admissions, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, U.S. Department of State
    • Kenneth Tota, Deputy Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration of Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services
  • State Context on Refugee Resettlement
    • Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
    • Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
  • A facilitated conversation with Washington’s Refugee Resettlement Agencies
  • For the PowerPoint presentations and materials click here.
  • To watch the video recording of the Public Forum click here.  

September 24, 2021, Virtual Public Forum: Welcoming Afghan Arrivals in Washington State.

  • Afghan Humanitarian Crisis and Resettlement in Washington State,
  • COVID-19 Updates, COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy, Vaccinations, and Cultural Specific Resources,
    • Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
  • Client Success Panel: How to get connected to your chosen career path?
    • ​Olena Doionko, Snohomish County
    • Wasan Hassan, Spokane County
  • For the PowerPoint presentations and materials click here.
  • To watch the video recording of the Public Forum click here.  

May 21, 2021, Virtual Public Forum: Rebuilding Refugee Resettlement in Washington State.

  • National Context on Refugee Resettlement,
    • Lawrence Bartlett, Director of Refugee Admissions, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, U.S. Department of State
    • Kenneth Tota, Deputy Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration of Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services
  • State Context on Refugee Resettlement
    • Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
    • Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
  • A facilitated conversation with Washington’s Refugee Resettlement Agencies
  • For the PowerPoint presentations and materials click here.
  • To watch the video recording of the Public Forum click here.  

February 19, 2021, 10:00am - 12:30PM, Virtual Public Forum

  • For more information click here
  • For PowerPoint presentations and materials click here
  • To watch the video recording of the Public Forum click here


 

Additional Advisory Groups

The following local Washington groups also provide feedback and guidance to DSHS on program planning for refugees and immigrants:

  • Tri-County Refugee Planning Committee (King, Pierce and Snohomish County)
  • Refugee Forum (Renton)
  • Refugee Housing Task Force (King County)
  • Refugee Service Providers Committee (Spokane)
  • Refugee Community Forum (Vancouver)
  • Service Provider Meeting (Richland)