Health Information and Promotion

SPIRASI's Health Information and Promotion programme developed from a pilot project which began in 2002. The initiative was a partnership between SPIRASI, the then Northern Area Health Board (Now Health Service Executive, Dublin North East) and the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA). It was envisioned that the service would provide a peer-led health information service to newly arrived asylum seekers living in reception centres in Dublin.

The programme was designed in a participative way in consultation with service users and service providers. It effectively delivers health information to asylum seekers across a range of nationalities, diverse languages and cultures.

Resource materials were developed by the Centre in order to help illustrate the services available. The materials were translated into a range of languages and for those with low levels of literacy, emphasis was placed on creating images which were easily understood and which delivered their message through the use of story cards and games.

Health Information and Promotion Services

The Centre continues to provide information, support and advice in a peer-led, client orientated service. The aim of the programme is to provide adequate, accessible information to clients in order to facilitate their access to statutory primary health-care in Ireland.

We provide residents in direct provision centres with information to enable them to access appropriate statutory health services. Within the Health Information team there is a strong emphasis on the quality of peer-led information. The dedicated outreach team is comprised of members of staff with medical and legal backgrounds and who have direct experience of the asylum process. All team members have a strong commitment to assisting those who have arrived in Ireland seeking asylum to make positive changes in their lives. The wide range of languages available within the team is a valuable resource which helps to improve the communication process. Their wealth of knowledge in relation to the Irish Health System and their first hand experience of the asylum process builds trust and confidence amongst those who attend the sessions

Where requested, one to one sessions are held in addition to ante and post natal information sessions for pregnant women.

Health Information is delivered in 3 Reception Centres in Dublin; Balseskin Reception Centre (Dublin 11), Kilmacud House (Stillorgan) and Hatch Hall (Dublin 2) where they have provided information and support to more than 8,000 people since the inception of the programme in 2003.

"When I came here I was lost ... meeting the SPIRASI team was a key factor for me, they explained everything we needed for health." Alpha Sylla, 2006

WHAT WE DO

· Provide Health Information directly to Asylum Seekers through a peer led approach in both group sessions and one to one discussions. The information provided enables asylum seekers to seek appropriate health and welfare services.

· Communicate using visual materials and adult education tools through the appropriate language.

· Provide support and information to refugees and asylum seekers in SPIRASI offices.

· Provide important orientation information to new immigrants through the development of a life-skills course.

The focus of the presentations at the reception centres involves:

· Accessing health services in the Irish setting

· Explaining the benefits of screening/health assessment.

· Defining the roles/responsibilities of health care providers.

· Understanding welfare entitlements.

· Explaining the importance of ante and post natal care for pregnant women.

· Creating awareness about Irish norms when using the health services in Ireland.

· Answering questions and responding to concerns.

· The programme offered by SPIRASI received a commendation in the Irish Health-care Pharmaceutical Awards of 2004. It was recognised for its `focus on improving patient care, its innovation and collaboration'.

Information Session in Balseskin Information session in Kilmacud

Life-skills Course

The Life-skills initiative is a tailored course designed to orientate newly arrived immigrants entitled to work in Ireland.

Overview

This short, peer-led course is designed to facilitate the integration process in Ireland and is a valuable source of information and support.

The methodology of the course is participative and encourages the students to become active in forming links within their local community.

It focuses on the importance of peer supports, practical information and community-involvement in enabling individuals to make and maintain links within new communities.

Aim:

The aim of the Life-skills course is to orientate newly arrived Immigrants towards accessing a range of appropriate services in Ireland.

· Encourages participants to understand the Health, Education and Social welfare systems in Ireland

· Supports participants to negotiate a range of services available in Ireland

· Develops personal skills and enables the development of community linkages.

· Helps prepare participants for employment in Ireland

· Supports participants' entry into the housing market

· Supports participants to negotiate the rights and entitlements associated with their immigration status in Ireland

Target population:

Lifestyles provides a basic programme, which can be adapted to suit the needs of specific groups. It has the potential to be adapted to suit the needs of programme refugees or scheduled to suit the interest and needs of migrant workers.

This particular programme is currently available to students accessing English classes at SPIRASI and is delivered over a period of 35 hours. Funding for this has been made available from the European Refugee Fund (ERFII)

If you are interested in this course, please contact Sharon McGuigan, Manager of the Centre for Health Information and Promotion at 01 8823533 to register interest in the course beginning in September 2007.

ROSELAWN:

The centre has undertaken a scoping exercise at Roselawn Health Centre, Dublin 15. This research was commissioned by the HSE and was undertaken during 2005 in order to:

· Identify the issues affecting access to services by ethnic minority communities in the area.

· Assess the problems faced by staff in trying to provide a quality service to new communities in the area.

· Recommend an adaptive and inclusive strategy for future activities in the area.

· Undertake short term activities with the staff to provide information and create awareness around cultural issues.

· Produce a research report with an action plan for the future

The report is to be launched early in 07.. Activities which have occurred within the Roselawn initiative include the provision of lunch time seminars for service providers as an introduction to cultural awareness. A directory of services for Roselawn is being developed to overcome cultural and language barriers to accessing services at the centre.

The above poster demonstrates the range of services available at Roselawn Health Centre.

2. LIMERICK TRAINING:

It was decided in 2004 to explore the possibility of establishing a Health Information Programme in Limerick, undertaking work similar to that of The Health Information Service in Dublin. With the backing of the Health Service Executive and Doras Luimni, CHIP provided Health Information training to 10 asylum seekers and clients of Doras Luimní. Training occurred during 2005 and was completed in 2006 when a graduation ceremony was held. The Mayor of Limerick awarded certificates to the successful candidates during a ceremony in December 2006. Evaluation of the project is currently ongoing.