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 RAC 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.
The purpose of the RAC 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
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Past Quarterly Public Forums
February 29, 2024, Hybrid Public Forum: To Share About Immigration Pathways, Access to Benefits, and Taxes in Washington
- The agenda included:
- WA State Refugee Assistance Updates
- Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- Health Updates
- Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
- Presentation: How to Help People File Their Taxes
- April A. Matsui, President and Founder, PIM Savvy, Inc.
- Marc Matsui, Vice President & Senior Consultant, PIM Savvy, Inc.
- Immigration Pathways and Access to Benefits
- Yein Pyo, Lead Policy Analyst, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- For the PowerPoint presentations, materials and resources click here.
October 26, 2023, Virtual Public Forum: To Share About Innovations Organizations Are Doing In Spokane For New Arrivals
- The agenda included:
- WA State Refugee Resettlement Updates
- Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- Panel Discussion: To Share About Innovations Organizations Are Doing In Spokane For New Arrivals
- Madison Beal, Health and Wellness Programs Manager, International Rescue Committee Spokane
- Andrea Simpson, Director of Integration and Wellness Services, World Relief Spokane
- Mark Finney, Executive Director, Thrive International
- Kathryn Garras, Executive Director, Refugee and Immigrant Connections (RICS)
- Samuel Smith, Immigration Attorney, Manzanita House Spokane
- Brent Hendricks -Executive Director Global Neighborhood
- For the PowerPoint presentations, materials and resources click here.
July 27, 2023, Virtual Public Forum: Mental Health Programs for Refugees and Newcomers in Washington
The agenda included:
- WA State Refugee Resettlement Updates
- Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- Mental Health Updates
- Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
- Cathy Vue, Refugee Health and Wellness Program Manager Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- Panel Discussion: Mental Health Programs for Refugees and Newcomers in Washington
- Tamara Cyhan Cunitz, Executive Director, Nashi Immigrants Health Board
- Oleg Pynda, Executive Director, Ukrainian Community Center of WA
- Mohammad Safi, Refugee Emotional Wellness Program Coordinator, Refugee Women's Alliance
- Megan O’Brien, Mental Health Program, Manager, International Rescue Committee
- Local Community Updates
- Emmanuel N. Muvunyi, Refugee Advisory Council Member, King County, and Deputy Director for Business Operations, International Rescue Committee, WA
- For the PowerPoint presentations, materials and resources click here.
Sept. 22, 2022, Virtual Public Forum: Employment and Training Programs
The agenda included:
- WA State Refugee Resettlement Updates
- Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- Health Updates
- Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
- DSHS – ORIA funded Employment and Training Programs
- Jennifer Malloy, Program Administrator, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance
- McKenzie Nassiri, Program Manager, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance
- FedEx Career Opportunities Presentation
- Steven Body, Senior Manager, Facility Operations, FedEx Ground, Kent WA
- Panel Discussion: Refugee Career Pathway and Career Ladders for Educated and Vocationally Experience Refugees Programs
- Kitty Kitnikone, Workforce Snohomish
- Linda Faaren, Puget Sound Welcome Back Center at Highline College
- Paige Vogel, Jewish Family Service
- Ginny To, TRAC Associates
- Bertrand Tabi, World Relief
- For the PowerPoint presentations and materials click here.
- For the FedEx PowerPoint presentations click here, this presentation will be available until March 22, 2023.
May 24, 2021, Virtual Public Forum: Fatherhood Inclusion and Belonging
The agenda included:
- WA State Refugee Resettlement Updates
- Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- Health Updates
- Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
- Testimonial of Crisis in Ukraine
- Tanya Willard - Ukrainian Community, Resettlement Case worker, World Relief, Spokane, WA
- Fatherhood Inclusion and Belonging
- Anne Stone MA, MPA, Early Childhood Innovation Director, Washington Interagency Fatherhood Council Director
- For the PowerPoint presentations and materials click here.
May 21, 2021, Virtual Public Forum: Rebuilding Refugee Resettlement in Washington State
The agenda included:
- National Context on Refugee Resettlement,
- Lawrence Bartlett, Director of Refugee Admissions, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, U.S. Department of State
- Kenneth Tota, Deputy Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration of Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services
- State Context on Refugee Resettlement
- Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
- Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- A facilitated conversation with Washington’s Refugee Resettlement Agencies
- For the PowerPoint presentations and materials click here.
- To watch the video recording of the Public Forum click here.
Sept. 24, 2021, Virtual Public Forum: Welcoming Afghan Arrivals in Washington State.
The agenda included:
- Afghan Humanitarian Crisis and Resettlement in Washington State,
- Aneelah Afzali, Executive Director, American Muslim Empowerment Network (A program of the Muslim Association of Puget Sound)
- Ariana Anjaz, Senior Director, Afghan Health Initiative
- Cordelia Revels, Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services, Jewish Family Service
- COVID-19 Updates, COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy, Vaccinations and Cultural-Specific Resources
- Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
- Client Success Panel: How to get connected to your chosen career path?
- Olena Doionko, Snohomish County
- Wasan Hassan, Spokane County
- For the PowerPoint presentations and materials click here.
- To watch the video recording of the Public Forum click here.
May 21, 2021, Virtual Public Forum: Rebuilding Refugee Resettlement in Washington State.
The agenda included:
- National Context on Refugee Resettlement,
- Lawrence Bartlett, Director of Refugee Admissions, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, U.S. Department of State
- Kenneth Tota, Deputy Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration of Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services
- State Context on Refugee Resettlement
- Jasmine Matheson, State Refugee Health Coordinator, Department of Health
- Sarah Peterson, State Refugee Coordinator Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Department of Social and Health Services
- A facilitated conversation with Washington’s Refugee Resettlement Agencies
- For the PowerPoint presentations and materials click here.
- To watch the video recording of the Public Forum click here.
Feb. 19, 2021, Virtual Public Forum
- For more information click here.
- For PowerPoint presentations and materials click here.
- To watch the video recording of the Public Forum click here.
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 County)
- Refugee Forum (Renton)
- Refugee Housing Task Force (King County)
- Refugee Service Providers Committee (Spokane)
- Refugee Community Forum (Vancouver)
- Service Provider Meeting (Richland)