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DHHS Office of Health Equity and refugee services briefs committee on integration supports and federal funding variability
Summary
The Office of Health Equity and the refugee services program told the finance subcommittee they support culturally and linguistically appropriate services, community outreach and refugee resettlement; speakers said federal funding can fluctuate with humanitarian needs and that the federal resettlement pause limits new refugee arrivals.
Reuben Hampton, director of the Office of Health Equity, briefed House Finance Division 3 on outreach, language access and refugee resettlement activities.
Hampton said the office works to reduce health disparities by promoting culturally and linguistically appropriate services (translations, interpreters and vendor capacity) and by engaging community stakeholders in program design and outreach. He described a series of vendor and resettlement partnerships that provide case management, housing assistance and employment training for newly arriving populations.
On refugee services, presenters said the program works with resettlement agencies and community partners to place refugees, provide initial health screening and help families integrate (school enrollment, employment support and vocational training). Committee members asked about Afghan arrivals and integration supports; presenters described resettlement agency efforts to recruit staff with relevant language and cultural skills and said outcomes vary by case but that agencies are resourced to manage cultural integration where possible.
Hampton and colleagues said federal policy changes affect flows: the current federal administration paused new refugee reception and placement for a four-month review, reducing arrivals; other pathways such as special immigrant visas (SIVs) continue. The refugee program is largely federally funded and the department said it may receive variable awards depending on humanitarian events.
Ending note: Legislators asked for a historic list of arrivals and current residence status; the office agreed to provide a multi-year breakdown of refugees and follow-up data requested by committee members.
