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Refugee Health

The Refugee Health Program

The GA Refugee Health program promotes the physical, mental, and social well-being of all newly arriving refugees in the state of Georgia. Refugees can contact the state Refugee program to identify a location for Refugee health visits and to receive additional information or guidance. GNR Public Health does not currently offer refugee services.

At your refugee health screening appointment, GNR Public Health will:

  • Screen for and treat identified communicable diseases
  • Screen for health issues
  • Assess vaccination status and provide recommended vaccines
  • Refer individuals to a primary care provider to address suspected or known health issues
  • Refer individuals to a source for continued health care


After your appointment, the health department reports health assessment findings to the Georgia Refugee Health Program.

Refugees receive assistance through the refugee resettlement program.

The health department strongly recommends that all individuals, regardless of citizenship status, get recommended vaccines to protect themselves, their loved ones, and the community against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Refugees who wish to become lawful, permanent residents of the United States must comply with all State of Georgia vaccination requirements.

School-age children are required to have vaccines before enrolling in schools in Georgia.

Learn more about required immunizations

A refugee, as defined by the Refugee Act of 1980, is a person who is outside of and unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of the home country because of persecution or fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

Visit Georgia‘s website on refugee health for more information.

Resources

Georgia Department of Public Health Refugee Health Program

CDC Refugee Health Guidelines for the U.S. Domestic Medical Examination for Newly Arriving Refugees

Georgia Gateway

The Refugee Health Medical Screening Guidelines Manual offers state-specific guidance for this screening examination.

National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, & Migrants is a University of Minnesota website that provides webinars, translated resources, toolkits, vaccine campaigns, and more, all tailored for the care of RIM populations.

More information is available about the Vaccination Program for U.S.-bound refugees, including an immunization schedule, at CDC.

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Community Health Assessment / Community Health Improvement Plans

Community Health Assessments (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP) have been created for the three counties we serve.

The community-wide health assessment, which examines the county’s health status, is intended to help shape the collaborative efforts to improve the health of residents.

The community health improvement plan describes how the Health Department and a variety of community partners will work together to improve the health of the population through various projects and programs.

Access each county’s CHA and CHIP below:

Gwinnett County

Newton County

Rockdale County

To request previous versions of the CHA and CHIP, contact us.

What’s an epidemiologist?​

Epidemiologists are public health workers who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury. They seek to reduce the risk and occurrence of negative health outcomes through research, community education and health policy.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/

Benefits

Full-time employees are eligible for an extensive and highly-competitive network of benefits.

Benefits package includes:

  • 13 paid holidays per year

  • Three weeks of Annual (Vacation) Leave per year

  • Three weeks of Sick Leave per year

  • Retirement plan through the State of Georgia Employee’s Retirement System which provides for a defined monthly pension upon retirement

  • 401(k) retirement savings plan to supplement pension plan, which includes an agency contribution based on the employee’s contribution amount

  • Life Insurance
    Payroll deductible health insurance and flexible benefits options including Dental, Vision, Long-term Care, Spouse Life, Dependent Life, AD&D, as well as Short-term and Long-term Disability

  • Medical and Childcare Spending Accounts available

  • Employees are eligible to become members of the Atlanta Postal Credit Union and/or the Georgia’s Own Credit Union.