The Indochinese: strategies for health survival

Compounding the "culture shock" of the Indochinese refugees were added problems of unemployment, and lack of housing and educational facilities, all leading to emotional distress. Traditional service delivery systems failed to show interest, much less offer needed service to the refugees who were stereotyped as deviant, unmotivated and resistant. The limited service that was offered ignored significant ethno-cultural factors central to effective intervention. An innovative approach was required. This paper describes a unique service program in New York City undertaken by Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service, and supported with a federal government grant. It was designed to reduce the refugees' strain and facilitate their adjustment. It trained bi-lingual and bi-cultural manpower with special skills to offer systemic, integrated and comprehensive service. The project demonstrated, quantitatively and qualitatively, that substantial impact can be made on the problems of refugees by providing ethno-centric service patterns. It provided trainees with entry-level knowledge and skill in the human services while offering relevant and responsive services to reduce the emotional strain, facilitate adjustment and secure entitlements for the refugees. It was but minimally successful in impacting on the established public and private delivery systems.