The Institute’s Immigrant Health Initiative connects asylum seekers to health care in New York City
January 25, 2023
Staff members in the Institute for Family Health’s Immigrant Health Initiative have been working to connect newly arrived asylum seekers from Florida and Texas to health care and social services in New York City. Since September, the team has arranged for medical, dental and behavioral health appointments at the Institute’s health centers and at partner organizations.
Through partnerships with local and community-based organizations, the Immigrant Health Initiative receives a list of people who have recently arrived in the New York City transitional shelter system and need services. Outreach staff then contact each person and offer appointments for care at Institute health centers. Once an individual arrives at the health center for care, they can also connect with a case manager who can help them get health insurance and other social services.
“We are very happy to be able to help,” said Nedelka Sotelo, the Project Coordinator for the Immigrant Health Initiative. “Our health centers offer a range of high-quality health and social services and we can connect people to this infrastructure to receive the care they very much need.”
Sotelo went on to share an example. “Recently, we assisted a woman who was six months pregnant and had not received any prenatal care as she traveled for months from her country. We were able to get her an appointment immediately and she received all the important tests and care she had not received before. She now will receive ongoing prenatal care, as well as care for her baby after the baby is born.”
The Institute’s health centers are open to all, regardless of one’s ability to pay or immigration status. If you are uninsured and need help getting health care, call the Immigrant Health Initiative at (646) 832-7144.
