The Refugee Advisory Council helps ensure the coordination of services for refugees and immigrants and raises awareness of issues that affect refugee and immigrant communities throughout Washington state.
The purpose of the Refugee Advisory Council is to:
- Convey local or regional concerns to DSHS and other state agencies.
- Prioritize refugee-related issues and concerns.
- Provide statewide planning, guidance and recommendations on policies, programs, funding and service delivery for refugees and immigrants.
- Provide information and interpretation of state policies, programs and funding to refugee and immigrant communities.
The RAC’s voting members include representatives from each DSHS region of the state. Click here for the list of current Refugee Advisory Council members.
Upcoming Quarterly Public Forums
Statewide Refugee Advisory Council Virtual Public Forum
- Time: TBD
- Date: TBD
- Meeting Theme: TBD
Past Quarterly Public Forums
- Sept. 17, 2026: Impact of H.R. 1 for Refugees and Humanitarian Immigrants: Health Benefits and Resources
The agenda included:
- Welcoming Washington: Updates from the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance
- Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- Refugee Health Updates
- Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Washington State Department of Health
- H.R.1 Impacts on Eligibility for Noncitizens
- Tamara Bobrovytska, Health Care Program Manager, Washington State Healthcare Authority (HCA)
- Sheldon Prante, Health Care Program Manager, HCA
- Impact of H.R. 1: Long-Term Services and Supports and Limited Benefit Community Access Program
- Emily Watts, Residential Policy Manage, DSHS Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA)
- Tania Gariano, Financial Eligibility and Policy Unit Manager, DSHS HCLA
- H.R. 1 Impacts and How Exchange Navigators Can Help
- Joan Altman, Director of Coverage Strategies and Expansion, WA Health Benefit Exchange
- Kelly Aaron, Navigator Support Manager, WA Health Benefit Exchange
- County Local Updates by Refugee Advisory Council
- For the PowerPoint presentations, materials and resources click here.
- Welcoming Washington: Updates from the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance
- May 7, 2026: Preparing for Changes in Public Benefits for Washington's Refugee and Immigrants
The agenda included:
- Washington State Refugee Assistance Updates
- Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- Impact of H.R.1: Washington’s Basic Food Program
- Babs Roberts, Senior Advisor, Programs and Policy, Economic Service Administration, Department of Social and Health Services
- Refugee Health Updates
- Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Washington State Department of Health
- Impact of H.R. 1: Apple Health for Refugees and Humanitarian Immigrants
- Giovanny Delgado, Health Care Program Manager, Washington State Health Care Authority
- County Local Updates by Refugee Advisory Council
- For the PowerPoint presentations, materials and resources click here.
- Washington State Refugee Assistance Updates
- Jan. 29, 2026: Impact of Federal Immigration Policy Changes on Refugees and Immigrants
The agenda included:
- Washington State Refugee Assistance Updates
- Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- Refugee Health Updates
- Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
- Impact of Federal Immigration Policy Changes on Refugees and Immigrants
- Malou Chavez, Executive Director, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
- Chach Duarte White, Director of Legal Services, Legal Counsel for Youth and Children
- Beth Farmer, Senior Director - Safety, Health and Education Technical Unit, Resettlement, Asylum and Integration, International Rescue Committee
- County Local Updates by Refugee Advisory Council
- For the PowerPoint presentations, materials and resources click here.
- Washington State Refugee Assistance Updates
- Sept. 25, 2025: Impact of Federal Changes on Apple Health for Refugees and Immigrants by Health Care Authority
The agenda included:
- Washington State Refugee Assistance Updates
- Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- Impact of Federal Changes on Apple Health for Refugees and Immigrants
- Dr. Charissa Fotinos, State Medicaid and Behavioral Health Medical Director, Health Care Authority
- Refugee Health Promotion Programs
- Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
- County Local Updates
- For the PowerPoint presentations, materials and resources click here.
- Washington State Refugee Assistance Updates
- May 26, 2025: REAL ID - Updates from the Washington State Dept. of Licensing and Immigration Policy Changes by Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
The agenda included:
- Washington State Refugee Assistance Updates
- Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- REAL ID Updates
- Alejandro Sanchez, Deputy Director, Washington State Department of Licensing
- Immigration Policy Changes
- Malou Chávez, Executive Director, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
- County Local Updates
- For the PowerPoint presentations, materials and resources click here.
- Washington State Refugee Assistance Updates
- Feb. 18, 2025: How changes in immigration policy will impact our local communities and what we can do to support them?
The agenda included:
- Washington State Refugee Assistance Updates
- Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- Panel Discussion: How changes in immigration policy will impact our local communities
- Imraan Siddiqi, Executive Director, Council on American Islamic Relations, Washington State Chapter
- Brenda Rodríguez López, Executive Director, Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network
- Soumyo Lahiri-Gupta, Immigration Advocacy Manager, One America
- County Local Updates
- For the PowerPoint presentations, materials and resources click here.
- Washington State Refugee Assistance Updates
Additional Advisory Groups
The following local Washington groups also provide feedback and guidance to DSHS on program planning for refugees and immigrants:
- Tri-County Refugee Planning Committee (King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties)
- Refugee Forum (Renton)
- Refugee Housing Task Force (King County)
- Refugee Service Providers Committee (Spokane)
- Refugee Community Forum (Vancouver)
- Service Provider Meeting (Richland)