Authors
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Sara Abdo
Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia
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Zrinka Seles-Vranjes
Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia
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Carmen Celina Moncayo
Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia
Keywords:
refugee, health, equity, partnership, sustainability
Abstract
Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) Refugee Health Program aims to address systemic and socially produced health disparities among newcomers. Working with various institutions, partnerships are created support equitable access to health care, addresses social determinants of health, and facilitate diversity and inclusion.
Author Biographies
Sara Abdo, Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia
Sara Abdo is a Health Settlement Counsellor at the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS). She enjoys spending her days empowering newcomers living with disabilities and chronic medical conditions in the re-settlement and community integration process. Alongside her colleagues, she works to ensure that newcomers have equitable access to health information, and supports in the community and healthcare settings.
Sara has a MSc in Occupational Therapy and BSc Double Major in Microbiology & Immunology and Italian Studies from Dalhousie University. As co-founder and chair of a national network through the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), Sara strives to connect and build capacity and understanding among the larger professional community on health disparities among newcomers and their access to services.
Zrinka Seles-Vranjes, Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia
Zrinka Seles-Vranjes is Immigrant Health Coordinator at Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS). She works with newly arrived clients, government assisted refugees, to support them in accessing services and information important to their health and wellbeing.
After spending close to a decade working in the field of refugee health, directly with refugee population, connecting new arrived clients with medical services and service providers, Zrinka gained valuable experience and insight into challenges, as well as good or promising practices, in the area of refugee health.
Zrinka is passionate about raising awareness about issues affecting health of refugees and together with her colleagues works hard to build connections with service providers and establish partnerships to further improve access to health services.
Carmen Celina Moncayo, Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia
Master in Community Psychology and Human Rights Specialist.
Immigrated to Canada 19 years ago. Worked for several years with the Colombian Ombudsman as a Women‘s rights senior advisor. Worked for 17 years with ISIS holding the positions of Family Violence Prevention Coordinator, Cultural Diversity Program Coordinator, Family Support Program coordinator. Currently is the Community Wellness Program Coordinator. She has been involved in several research, prevention and promotion projects in Colombia and Canada around reproductive women rights, children sexual exploitation, gender and armed conflict, family violence, parenting, mental health and wellness in im/migrant communities. Has participated in several initiatives to introduce changes in policies and services for immigrants. Has designed the ISANS Community Collaborative Model of Supporting im/migrants Mental Health and Wellbeing. She is member of CAMH Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Project and the NS Trauma Advisory Committees.
Section
Theme 4: Health equity, inclusion, diversity, and social determinants of health
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