New Skills for New Arrivals:

Transit Familiarization and Orientation for Newly Arrived Immigrants and Refugees

August 18, 2013

Highest refugee populations admitted to the U.S. by country (October 2012- February 2013):

Iraq: 7,506Burma (Myanmar): 7,011Bhutan: 3,458 Somalia: 2,814Cuba: 1,529Democratic Republic of Congo: 1, 167 Iran: 1, 136Eritrea: 982Sudan: 916

• Source: Worldwide Refugee Processing Systems (WRAPS), Department of State, March 2013

Refugee ArrivalsReporting period: October 1 2012- February 28,2013

Nationwide Statistics: 13,025 cases28,079 individuals

Washington State: 425 cases943 individuals

Other state statistics:

California: 1,285 cases2,611 individuals

Illinois: 501 cases1,111 individuals

Michigan: 889 cases 1,986 individuals

Texas: 1,382 cases 3,032 individuals

Nepali family at Pike Place Market, Seattle, June 2013

Ride Around the Sound (2011-2013)

• 337 individuals received “on the bus” training by Hopelink Travel Programs on 31 Ride Around the Sound excursions.

• Participating Refugee Resettlement Agencies:– International Rescue Committee (IRC)– World Relief– Jewish Family Service

• Other Refugee and Immigrant Service Agencies:– Housing Providers

• Seattle, Renton and King County Housing Authorities• Providence Housing and Catholic Community Services

– ESL programs• St. James Cathedral, Hopelink• Green River and Highline community colleges

Services Provided by Hopelink

• Pre-trip information and orientation• Day-of trip planning• $10 value on re-loadable ORCA card for fares• Interpreters for Pre-Trip and Day-of if needed• Hopelink staff-led excursions• Follow up resources for clients and staff• Client surveys• Repeat excursions if requested

IRC Clients Learning to Ride Light Rail

Seattle Public Health Trip March 2013

World Relief Clients at Pike Place Market May 2013

ESL Class Trip to the Mall in July 2013

ESL Students on Ferry to Bainbridge Island August 2013

Vietnamese, Chinese & Russian Seniors Out in the Community

Spring 2013

Tools & Tips for Getting Around Puget Sound

How to Pay

Where to find Bus fares

• A sign inside the bus.

• Fare questions? Ask the driver.

• Use exact change if paying in cash.

ORCA CARD(One Regional Card for All)

•ORCA card works like cash or bank card.

•Buy Card for $5, then add money to ride busses, ferries and trains.

ORCA Card: How to Use

BUS:Tap ORCA card on the reader inside the bus to pay.

ORCA Card: How to UseLIGHT RAIL/TRAIN:

Tap the ORCA card on the yellow card reader that on the platform before you get on the train and after you exit.

ORCA Card Reader:

Fare paid (1 beep + ) light)

Fare paid, money low (2 beeps + lights)

Tapped card wrong (3 beeps + )

No money ( 5 beeps + )

Fare inspection on some transit modes

•If you do not tap card or purchase a ticket, you may get a $124 fine.

• Show your ORCA card or ticket to the fare inspector when asked.

Do you receive Medicaid?

Using Landmarks for Training & Orientation

Challenges• Range of experience among refugee populations in:

– Transit Use– Technology Use and Access– Urban Environments– Local or family support– Arrival date in U.S.– English Language ability

• Other challenges:– Stress and trauma– Health status or disability– Financial constraints and poverty– Cultural or social norms– On-going English language barriers

Resources• Ethnomed http://ethnomed.org/

• A program of the University of Washington Health Sciences Libraries and Harborview Medical Center's Interpreter Services Department/Community House Calls Program (ISD/CHC).

“EthnoMed contains information about cultural beliefs, medical issues and related topics pertinent to the health care of immigrants to Seattle or the US, many of whom are refugees fleeing war-torn parts of the world.”

• Refugee Council U.S.A. http://rcusa.org/

• RCUSA is a coalition of organizations committed to welcoming and protecting refugees.

“Enhance the capacity, voice and effectiveness of member organizations to advance a mutually agreed upon common agenda of protection and meaningful welcome. Advocate globally for the protection, integration and rights of refugees and other populations who are forcibly displaced and at risk. Build excellence in the U.S. refugee resettlement program through the collaboration of member organizations.”