|
|
The place for education, information and coordination for agencies serving New Americans |
|
|
|
| Volume I, Issue 5 |
April 2010 |
Greetings!
Our apologies for the delay in getting out our latest issue of The Refuge. We hope to get back on schedule and continue to bring you vital information about the programs and services aimed at our refugee and immigrant community. There is a lot of important and innovative work being done here and we want this publication to be a forum for highlighting these good works. Please let us know what you would like to see in this e-newsletter. And don't be afraid to submit your own articles, photos or story ideas.
To your health!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bilingual pharmacy techs can assist Burmese
As the population of Burmese expatriates continues to grow in the Fort Wayne area, it has become evident that we need to improve our ability to effectively communicate, and therefore, properly care for this large segment of our community. In a partnership with Deb McMahan, MD., the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health, and Khin Oo, MD., we now employ two bilingual, Burmese-American pharmacy technicians.
Agnatha Win (Mee Mee) is currently attending Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) with a major in biology. She works in our South Anthony CVS pharmacy on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Her previous experiences include volunteering at Matthew 25, working as a home health aid, and as a medical interpreter in a variety of settings. Mee Mee is a great addition to our team and is very excited to positively impact all patients she comes in contact with. She aspires to become a physician and continue to serve her community in this capacity.
Pye Phyo Wai is also attending IPFW with a major in biology. When he is not working at CVS on Monday & Friday nights and Saturdays, he spends his time as a medical interpreter and a computer lab consultant for IPFW. Pye is also a great addition to the team and is very committed to serving the South Anthony community. His future ambition is to become a pharmacist.
The pharmacy staff at the CVS South Anthony appreciates the dedication and knowledge that Mee Mee and Pye bring to our pharmacy with their understanding of the language and culture of our Burmese customers. They have been making phone calls and helping our pharmacists understand questions that our Burmese customers have about their medications. Mee Mee has been instrumental with helping to develop pictures to illustrate medications and pictures of how to take them so written language is not always necessary. Our goal is to increase our coverage of Burmese speaking technicians at CVS South Anthony to better serve the community and improve overall health outcomes for our Burmese patients.
Starting in May, Ken Kimball, RPh will be taking over as Pharmacy Manager of CVS South Anthony. Ken was a CVS Pharmacist for several years. In 2006, he took a leave from the company to perform missionary work in Viet Nam for four years. He has recently returned to America with his wife and three children and has a passion for caring for a diverse patient population. His experience and knowledge of Asian-Pacific cultures will bring much value to Fort Wayne's large Burmese population.
Chad Buhr, RPh, is a Pharmacy Supervisor with CVS. He be reached at (866) 222-9438 x. 14523 or at CMBuhr@cvs.com |
|
 Fat free sewers By Mary Jane Slaton
Fats, oils and greases aren't just bad for your waistline and your health; they're bad for your drain, too. Just as fat can clog your arteries, it can clog your sink drain and the public sewer lines. This can cause sewage to back up into you home or your neighbor's home. Sewer back ups are messy and expensive to clean up. Fort Wayne City Utilities spends an estimated $400,000 per year to clean grease out of sewer lines in order to prevent clogs and backups.
Grease is a by-product of cooking that comes from meat fats, lard, oil, shortening, food scraps, and even baked goods. When these materials are washed down the sink, the grease sticks on the sides of the sewer pipes - both on private property and in the public sewer system. Over time, grease can build up to the point where it blocks the entire line. Home garbage disposals do not keep grease out of the plumbing system. Products such as detergents that claim to dissolve grease may just pass it down the line and cause problems elsewhere. And while hot water may appear to make grease go away, it just melts the solids which can harden again when they hit a cold sewer pipe.
Here's what you can do to avoid clogging a drain with oil and grease:
- Never pour grease down the drain, into the toilet or into a storm drain.
- For a large amount of oil, pour the cooled liquid into a milk jug. Fill the jug about half full, and then add kitty litter to absorb the liquid. Put the lid on the jug and place it in the trash.
- Scrape grease and food scraps from pots, pans and dishes into the trash. Wipe greasy dishes and pans with paper towels before washing them. Dispose of the paper toweling in the trash.
- Place baskets or strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids and empty the strainers into the trash.
Fort Wayne City Utilities offers grease prevention kits that contain more information and tools to help you manage grease and cooking oils. For more information or to receive a kit, please call City Utilities at 311.
|
Statement by the Burmese Advocacy Center 
The Burmese Advocacy Center ("BAC") is a not-for-profit corporation that advocates for and on behalf of the diverse ethnic groups originating from Burma. The BAC works with volunteers and other groups in the community in an effort toresolve problems that may arise as a result of cultural and language barriers. Among the other groups active in this effort are the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation and the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic. The BAC also seeks to act as a liaison between the Burmese Community and the broader Fort Wayne Community.
The BAC is aware of a recent unfortunate incident in which a local business posted a sign banning Burmese peoples from the premises. Such discrimination is violation of federal, state and local law since it targets an entire community based on its race and national origin. However, the BAC has also learned that the business owner involved has since removed thesign and issued an apology. Though the BAC does not speak for all Burmese people, for its own part, it accepts the apology in the spirit in which it was given. The BAC also understands that this event arose out of a lack of understanding and an inability of the parties to communicate with one another.
Burmese people have been coming to Fort Wayne since the early 1990's. The first wave of immigrants was mostly students who were fleeing political persecution and seeking asylum in the United States. More recently, refugees fleeing both political and religious persecution have arrived in Fort Wayne. Many of these people spent many years in refugeecamps in Thailand where they were afforded no meaningful education or employment opportunities. Many of these refugees do not speak English and are completely unfamiliar with the broader American culture. Because of this, the Burmese face difficult challenges in integrating themselves into the Fort Wayne Community. These realities can create unfortunate barriers between the Burmese population and individuals and businesses in the broader community.
The BAC urges individuals or businesses who encounter difficulties in dealing with Burmese people not to give into discriminatory attitudes that may sometimes arise due to cultural and linguistic barriers. Individuals and businesses wishing assistance in understanding and communicating with Burmese people are encouraged to contact the BAC or another appropriate organization or agency for assistance.
Recently, the BAC welcomed a new Health Coordinator (Dr. Ohnmar Thwin) and a Health Educator (Yu Yu Khiang).
The Burmese Advocacy Center may be contacted at (260) 456-8969 ext. 315. The BAC is located at the Community Resource Center for Refugees at 2826 S. Calhoun St. |
Lend a Hand: Super Shot
Super Shot Inc. is a local organization that provides free immunizations for children in Allen County at 30 clinics a month. Super Shot is not a government program, it's funded by the community and donations are critical to its continued success. Please help protect our community's children by supporting Super Shot with an online donation. To donate, click here.
There are lots of ways to get involved in refugee resettlement, and one of these ways will be highlighted in each issue of our newsletter. If you would like to suggest a volunteer opportunity, email john.silcox@co.allen.in.us |
| Upcoming Events | |
National Crime Victims Rights Week (April 18-24)
The Allen County Prosecuting Attorney's Office will recognize a number of individuals who have provided outstanding services to victims in our community.
...AND...
A training session will be held to learn about local victim services that are available to our communities' immigrant population. Speakers include: Chaplain Saneta Maiko (Crime Victim Care), Babra Chakanyuka (Crime Victim Care), Ana Giusti (Center for Nonviolence)...and more.
Thursday, April 15, 2010, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Omni Room in the City-County Building
Free admission
|
| Upcoming Events | |
10th anniversary celebration
African/African-Amercian Historical Society
"A Change is Gonna Come"
Attorney Morris Dees, keynote speaker
Co-Founder Southern Poverty Law Center
Friday, April 16, 2010, 6 p.m.
Grand Wayne Center, 120 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Donation: $50
For more information, call the museum at (260) 420-0765. |
| Save the Date |
Fort Wayne Hispanic Chamber's 20th anniversary
When: Thursday, April 22, 2010
Where: Ceruit's Summit Room, 6601 Innovation Blvd.
Cost: $35 per person
R.S.V.P to Hispanic Chamber at (260) 422-6697.
|
|
|
According to BBC News, "Haiti became the world's first black-led republic and the first independent Caribbean state when it threw off French colonial control and slavery in a series of wars in the early 19th century. However, decades of poverty, violence, environmental degradation, instability and dictatorship have left it as the poorest nation in the Americas." Population:
10 million
Capital:
Area:
27,750 sq km
(10,714 sq miles)
Major languages:
Christianity
Life expectancy:
59 years (men), 63 years (women)
Main exports:
Light manufacturing, coffee, oils, mangoes
Source: BBC News
|
|
News you can use
Fort Wayne Counts!
If you did not receive a census form or cannot locate it, click here to find a "Be Counted" site in your neighborhood where forms are available. Or call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Center at 1-866-872-6868 for help. |
|
News you can use
If you made less than $49,000 last year, you may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit and fee tax assistance.
Need more info? Call 2-1-1. |
|
News you can use
Free community-wide CPR training will be offered on Saturday, May 8 at the Public Safety Academy, 7602 Patriot Crossing (behind Southtown WalMart).
Convenient 1-hour sessions beginning every half-hour, 9 to 11 a.m. Training is non-certified.
Open to anyone ages 12 and up.
Register online at 3RCPR.org today! |
|
| To your health! | | Thank you for your interest in the health and well-being of our immigrant and refugee community. Please send your news items, story ideas, photos and other suggestions to john.silcox@co.allen.in.us or call John Silcox at (260) 449-7395. |
|
|
|
|
