On April 21, 2022, President Biden announced a new Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) process to help Ukrainian citizens fleeing war come to the United States temporarily.
As of November 18, 2022:
- U4U received 169,614 sponsor applications.
- About 75,000 Ukrainian citizens arrived in the United States.
- About 14,000 live in Washington.
Newly arrived Ukrainian citizens have various medical and mental health needs.
- U4U program requirements:
- COVID-19, MMR and polio vaccines.
- Tuberculosis screening (IGRA) for everyone 2 years or older.
- Vaccination:
- Many need vaccination records translated into English and entered into Washington State Immunization Information System.
- Upload Ukrainian vaccination records for free translation into English, vax4school.org.
- Translation guide for Russian and Ukrainian records, Spokane Regional Health District.
- Many need catch-up vaccines.
- Some vaccines (PCV, MenACWY, varicella, etc.) are not part of Ukraine’s vaccination schedule.
- Some children may need vaccines Washington requires prior to entering school or childcare.
- For more about Childhood Vaccine Program, contact Washington State Department of Health (DOH) at (866) 397-0337 or WAChildhoodVaccines@doh.wa.gov.
- For more about Adult Vaccine Program, contact DOH at WAAdultVaccines@doh.wa.gov.
- Many need vaccination records translated into English and entered into Washington State Immunization Information System.
- Mental health:
- Psychological first aid (PFA) field operations guide, National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN):
- Tips for adults, also in Ukrainian and Russian.
- Tips for parents helping adolescents, also in Ukrainian and Russian.
- Tips for parents helping infants and toddlers, also in Ukrainian and Russian.
- Tips for parents helping preschoolers, also in Ukrainian and Russian.
- Age-related reactions to traumatic events, also in Ukrainian and Russian.
Resources
- U4U support line: (407) 591-3963, Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–2 p.m. PST.
- Ukrainian citizens can call for help from a navigator to find resources in their communities.
- Nashi Immigrants Health Board, a non-profit founded by people in the community in partnership with Washington State Department of Health (DOH).
- Helps meet the broad range of Ukrainian citizens’ health and social needs through community engagement, empowerment and connection to resources.
- Overview for clinicians caring for Ukrainian new arrivals, Minnesota Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health.
- Understanding refugee trauma: For school personnel, NCTSN.