Refugees resettled in Maine are eligible to receive a Refugee Health Assessment (RHA), a comprehensive exam specific to the needs of the refugee population. RHAs are provided by trained medical providers within the first 30 to 90 days after refugees’ arrival in Maine. The purpose of the assessment is to ensure follow-up of any conditions identified during the overseas medical examination, to identify any conditions of public health concern, and to identify and treat health conditions that may adversely affect resettlement and early employment. The assessment includes presumptive parasitic treatment, immunizations, mental health screening, and identification of disease pathology or impaired nutritional status. Refugees are also referred to a primary care physician to establish care after completing the health assessment process. During the assessment and throughout the resettlement process and cultural orientations, refugees receive health education to learn about the U.S. healthcare system, including the importance of primary care, insurance, prescriptions, and levels of care. Adults and children receive adjustment of status vaccinations in line with ACIP recommendations.

All local medical screening providers should provide refugees with latent tuberculosis treatment, which are provided to the general public as needed after the TB screening.

As of today’s date, the Office of Maine Refugee Services through the State Refugee Health Coordinator has established refugee medical screening contracts with seven (07) providers across the state.  Those providers conduct the domestic refugee medical screening as described in State Letter # 12 - 09, State Letter # 23-08, and the CDC Refugee Health Guidance.  All providers are required to conduct the screening using the attached Maine Refugee Health Assessment tool.

Refugee Health Assessment and Immunization Partners:

1. Maine Medical Center International Clinic, Portland, ME
2. Greater Portland Health, Portland, ME
3. Southern Maine Health Center, Saco, ME
4. The B Street Clinic of St Mary’s Community Clinical Service, Lewiston, ME
5. The Pediatric Associates, Lewiston, ME
6. Maine General Family Practice, Augusta, ME
7. The Penobscot Community Health Center, Bangor, ME
8. The Behavioral Health Network of Catholic Charities

Interested in becoming a Refugee Medical Screening Partner?  Please fill the Apply for Funding form below.

The goal of the RHP program is to promote the health and well-being of refugees and other ORR-eligible populations by:

1) providing opportunities to increase health literacy,

2) coordinating health care, and

3) organizing wellness groups.

To accomplish this goal, ORR encourages involvement of the Refugee Health Coordinator (RHC) to ensure a coordinated approach for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of RHP activities.

The RHP program should focus on providing direct services for ORR-eligible populations to promote their health, both routinely and during time of crisis (e.g., pandemics). Activities may include:

• Health education classes and targeted health outreach to individuals,
• Medical and mental health navigation and support, and
• Adjustment groups, skill-building networks, or peer support meetings.

Grantees must follow these guidelines when implementing these RHP activities.

We engage Ethnic Community Based Organizations’ (ECBO) partnership and refugee leaders in cross-cultural trainings and interventions culturally adapted to refugee communities. 

OMRS uses the RHP grant to funds health promotion activities from ECBOs, immigrant organizations, resettlement agencies, and mental health care providers.  For more information about the refugee health promotion program, please reach out to Breeana Blalock, State Refugee Health Promotion Program Coordinator at [email protected]. You may also find more information about the RHP program here RHP Policy.

Funded Partners:

• Gateway Community Services
• Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine
• Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services
• New England Arab American Organization
• New Mainers Public Health Initiative

Fill the form below if you are interested in applying for the RHP funding.

Apply for Funding

Fill out this easy-to-use form to begin the process of applying for Federal Funding to support your service to our refugee communities.

The Refugee Social Services (RSS) Program supports services that address barriers to employment and self-sufficiency. Refugees are eligible to participate in RSS funded services up to 5 years from date of arrival. The majority of the programs offered are targeted toward refugees who have been in the U.S. for less than one year. Services include:

• Employment Services, including assistance with job search, job placement and job retention, as well as orientation to the workplace in the United States
• English Language Training
• Case Management focused on removing barriers to employment
• Other social services, including referrals to mainstream services, social adjustment services, youth services, citizenship preparation, and other services not connected to obtaining employment

The refugee resettlement agencies in Maine provide most of the Refugee Social Services programming. English Language Training is offered by Adult Education providers, Universities and Colleges.  OMRS can also sponsor English literacy classes organized by community-based organizations.

The Office of Maine Refugee Services refer all qualified RCA recipients to the 3 resettlement agencies in the state to provide this service.  Some clients may walk in or may be referred for these services by other sources.  All three resettlement agencies received funding from OMRS to provide this important service.

Anyone interested in refugee support services can access it at:

1. Catholic Charities Maine Refugee and Immigration Services on 80 Sherman Street Portland Maine or on 37 Park Street Lewiston Maine or on 436 South Maine Street Brewer Maine
2. Maine Immigrants and Refugee Services on 236 Bartlett Street Lewiston Maine
3. Jewish Community Alliances 1243 Congress Street Portland Maine

Apply for Funding

Ethnic Community Based Organizations and Adult Ed providers may apply for funding to provide English literacy classes to ORR eligible populations.  For more information about the RSS program, please click HERE  or go to CFR 400 Refugee Social Services.

Fill out this easy-to-use form to begin the process of applying for Federal Funding to support your service to our refugee communities.

The Services to Older Refugees Program funds states and state-alternative programs to ensure that refugees aged 60 and older have access to applicable services for the aging and to provide qualifying refugees with appropriate services not currently available in the community.

Refugees aged 60 and above who have been in the United States for up to 5 years are eligible for all program services. Referral services, interpreter services, and citizenship and naturalization preparation services for these refugees are available beyond the five-year mark.

Example of Services to Older Refugees are:

• Access to senior community centers, supportive services, and intergenerational activities
• Nutrition services and meals delivered to homebound clients
• Transportation
• Interpretation and translation
• Citizenship and naturalization services
• Home care, adult day care, and respite care
• Elder abuse prevention
• Nursing home ombudsman services

These activities, services, and resources support overall physical and emotional health, help integration into new communities, and support independent living.

Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration Services (RIS) is the sole recipient of the Maine SOR grants.  All refugees/ORR eligible population members aged 60 and older should be referred to RIS at 80 Sherman Street Portland ME to benefit from this service.

More information about this funding and program can be found here.

Apply for Funding

Fill out this easy-to-use form to begin the process of applying for Federal Funding to support your service to our refugee communities.

The Youth Mentoring Program matches refugee youth between the ages of 15 and 24 with mentors who will support successful integration, promote positive civic and social engagement, and support educational and career development. This program is open to youth within the first five years of their arrival. Gateway Community Services and Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services administer the Youth Mentoring program in Maine.

Apply for Funding

Fill out this easy-to-use form to begin the process of applying for Federal Funding to support your service to our refugee communities.

The Wilson-Fish (WF) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Coordination Program (WF TCP) funds innovative approaches to provide more customized, culturally, and linguistically appropriate integrated services and resources for ORR-eligible families with children under the age of 18. The goal of WF TCP is to strengthen these families’ abilities to navigate barriers, become economically self-sufficient, and improve their social and economic wellbeing.

Maine coordinates with the state TANF office, the State Refugee Coordinator, and other relevant stakeholders to map existing services and resources. The WF-TCP in Maine is run by the Growing Employment Access for Refugees (GEAR) team hosted at the Office of Maine Refugee Services. The GEAR team develops resources and provide in-person and remote support to enhance or complement existing programming, and/or address unmet needs of families.

All ORR-eligible individuals can receive WF TCP services for up to three years from their date of eligibility. However, grantees prioritize families with children under the age of 18, who may be eligible for TANF and who are within their first year of ORR eligibility, as well as those not receiving other enhanced services who require additional support.

OMRS’ GEAR (Growing Employment Access for Refugees) project provides customized, culturally and linguistically appropriate services for TANF refugee recipients to improve their participation in ASPIRE activities. 

Please visit our YouTube channel for our library of employment videos in multiple languages.

For more information about the program in the state of Maine, please contact Michele Kouanzoua at [email protected].

Fill out this easy-to-use form to begin the process of applying for Federal Funding to support your service to our refugee communities.