A150 highly traumatized Congolese refugees, mostly women and children, will be arriving in the East Bay starting in July. The relocation is being coordinated through the US State Department with the aid of the International Rescue Committee and Catholic Charities. The typical family group includes an HIV-infected mother with 4-5 children, all of whom will become patients at Children's Hospital Oakland. Approximately 25% of the 100-120 children are anticipated to also be HIV-infected.
There will be less than 10 days' notice before each family arrives.
Each family will be taken to an apartment in Oakland along the International Blvd corridor. The apartment will have 3 days of food, simple beds, one set of linen, one set of clothes for each child, minimal furniture, a few dishes.
These families will have tremendous needs. The women have an average of a 3rd grade education. Virtually none of them speak English or any other 'common' language. Most speak dialects from rural areas that are specific to their villages or local communities only.
The families will get minimal financial assistance that will barely make any ends meet and from which they will have to pay rent, food, etc., and eventually they will be expected to find work (with some assistance). They will get Medi-Cal initially (fortunately) and the Oakland Children's Hospital will work hard to find them optimal health coverage. But it will definitely be very tough!
Arrangements will be made for kids' school enrollment once their immunizations have been updated and Oakland Unified School District will address their special needs.
The women will get health care through Highland Hospital's Adult Immunology Clinic and Highland's primary care program for adults.
What can you do?
Donate the following:
Diapers and other kid-essentials.
Toys without batteries (batteries cost too much money. The children have NO toys and not likely have had any for the years they lived in refugee camps.
New or used school supplies (or make kits that can be distributed to the school-age kids).
Furniture that will make their apartments feel more cozy and comfortable.
Sheets, towels, hand-towels, kitchen equipment - new or used, as long as they are clean and washed.
