New Skills for New Arrivals:
Transit Familiarization and Orientation for
Newly Arrived Immigrants and Refugees
August 18, 2013
Highest refugee populations
admitted to the U.S. by country
(October 2012- February 2013):
 Iraq: 7,506
 Burma (Myanmar): 7,011
 Bhutan: 3,458
 Somalia: 2,814
 Cuba: 1,529
 Democratic Republic of Congo: 1, 167
 Iran: 1, 136
 Eritrea: 982
 Sudan: 916
•
Source: Worldwide Refugee Processing Systems (WRAPS), Department of State, March 2013
Refugee Arrivals
Reporting period: October 1 2012- February 28,2013
Nationwide Statistics:
13,025 cases
28,079 individuals
Washington State:
425 cases
943 individuals
Other state statistics:
California: 1,285 cases
2,611 individuals
Illinois: 501 cases
1,111 individuals
Michigan: 889 cases
1,986 individuals
Texas: 1,382 cases
3,032 individuals
Nepali family at Pike Place Market, Seattle, June 2013
Ride Around the Sound (2011-2013)
• 337 individuals received “on the bus” training by Hopelink Travel
Programs on 31 Ride Around the Sound excursions.
• Participating Refugee Resettlement Agencies:
– International Rescue Committee (IRC)
– World Relief
– Jewish Family Service
• Other Refugee and Immigrant Service Agencies:
– Housing Providers
• Seattle, Renton and King County Housing Authorities
• Providence Housing and Catholic Community Services
– ESL programs
• St. James Cathedral, Hopelink
• Green River and Highline community colleges
Services Provided by Hopelink
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Pre-trip information and orientation
Day-of trip planning
$10 value on re-loadable ORCA card for fares
Interpreters for Pre-Trip and Day-of if needed
Hopelink staff-led excursions
Follow up resources for clients and staff
Client surveys
Repeat excursions if requested
IRC Clients Learning to Ride Light Rail
Seattle Public Health Trip March 2013
World Relief Clients at
Pike Place Market May 2013
ESL Class Trip to the Mall in July 2013
ESL Students on Ferry to Bainbridge
Island August 2013
Vietnamese, Chinese & Russian
Seniors Out in the Community
Spring 2013
Tools & Tips for Getting Around
Puget Sound
How to Pay
Where to find Bus fares
• A sign inside the bus.
• Fare questions? Ask the driver.
• Use exact change if paying in cash.
ORCA CARD
(One Regional Card for All)
•ORCA card works
like cash or bank
card.
•Buy Card for $5,
then add money to
ride busses, ferries
and trains.
ORCA Card: How to Use
BUS:
Tap ORCA card on the reader inside the bus to pay.
ORCA Card: How to Use
LIGHT RAIL/TRAIN:
Tap the ORCA card on the yellow card reader that on the platform
before you get on the train and after you exit.
ORCA Card Reader:
Fare paid (1 beep +
) light)
Fare paid, money low (2 beeps +
Tapped card wrong (3 beeps +
No money ( 5 beeps +
)
lights)
)
Fare inspection on some transit modes
•If you do not tap card or
purchase a ticket, you may
get a $124 fine.
• Show your ORCA card or
ticket to the fare inspector
when asked.
Do you receive Medicaid?
Using Landmarks for Training & Orientation
Challenges
• Range of experience among refugee populations in:
– Transit Use
– Technology Use and Access
– Urban Environments
– Local or family support
– Arrival date in U.S.
– English Language ability
• Other challenges:
– Stress and trauma
– Health status or disability
– Financial constraints and poverty
– Cultural or social norms
– On-going English language barriers
Resources
• Ethnomed
•
http://ethnomed.org/
A program of the University of Washington Health Sciences Libraries and Harborview
Medical Center's Interpreter Services Department/Community House Calls Program
(ISD/CHC).
“EthnoMed contains information about cultural beliefs, medical issues and related
topics pertinent to the health care of immigrants to Seattle or the US, many of
whom are refugees fleeing war-torn parts of the world.”
• Refugee Council U.S.A.
•
http://rcusa.org/
RCUSA is a coalition of organizations committed to welcoming and protecting
refugees.
“Enhance the capacity, voice and effectiveness of member organizations to advance
a mutually agreed upon common agenda of protection and meaningful welcome.
Advocate globally for the protection, integration and rights of refugees and other
populations who are forcibly displaced and at risk. Build excellence in the U.S.
refugee resettlement program through the collaboration of member organizations.”