Hmong Mental Health Providers Network

Date: Thursday, May 20, 2004
Time: 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM

In attendance:

1. Introductions

2. MN State Board of Social Work Licensure

• Contact Person: Ralph Holcomb
• Purpose: Investigation of the issue of differential passage rates for foreign born English language learner licensure candidates-mainly Hmong social work licensure candidates-and mainstream candidates.
• Two ways to approach this problem

I. Focus Group:

Looking for assistance in locating people.

1. Participants must have graduated from an accredited clinical social
work program

2. Participants must be foreign born English language learners

II. Web based Survey:

Will use the snowball research technique to identify people.

3. Hennepin Faculty Associates-Methadone Program

• Encountering Southeast Asian clientele (approximately 200, with 80%
  older population, 70% of which are men) with opium addiction and PTSD/ Major
  Depression disorders. Currently does not provide mental health services and
  would like to seek some referral agencies for these individuals. Many
  agencies were mentioned.

4. INS Update

• Learned from the INS meeting that INS workers are not fully
  informed or educated about the refugee experience. Training session was set
  up with INS to educate workers about PTSD, Major Depression and the Refugee
  Experience.

5. American Refugee Committee (ARC) was mentioned as another important
contact agency for agencies that are working with the refugees on site.

6. To do list

• An information sheet with tips on how to fill out the INS waiver
  will be distributed to interested parties.
• Each agency representative should email Youa Yang a brief summary
  about each agency is doing to prepare for the Hmong refugees.

7. Next Meeting: June 17, 2004 3:00-4:30PM Agenda TBA

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