Social Work in the Global Environment

This presentation will focus on providing an overview of the public health aspects of migration and displacement, including: framing of definitions and migration trends, in depth information on the global public health and research priorities on the topic, and examples of how WHO Health and Migration is working to secure the health rights of refugees and migrants and achieve universal health coverage globally.

Miriam Orcutt MBBS, MSc, is currently a Technical Officer at the World Health Organization Health and Migration and was technical lead for the first WHO Global research agenda on health, migration, and displacement (2023, https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240082397). She is the former Executive Director of Lancet Migration and was a Senior Research Fellow in Global Public Health & Forced Migration at the Institute for Global Health, University College London until early 2022. Miriam has over ten years of policy, academic, and humanitarian experience in various organizations and refugee and migration contexts globally. She previously worked as a medical doctor in the UK’S National Health Service, on the Academic Clinical Foundation Programme in Epidemiology & Global Public Health until 2015 and holds and MSc in Medical Anthropology with Distinction from Durham University.  She previously worked as a Migration Health Specialist at Médecins sans Frontières (OCB), helping to design the first migration health strategy for MSF. She was one of the lead authors of 'The UCL-Lancet Commission on Migration and Health' and was the lead editor for the ‘Handbook of Refugee Health' (awarded BMA book of the year 2022).

Participants will strengthen their knowledge of U.S. immigration policies, specifically how individuals can enter for a short stay or for the long term; policies that keep people out, and policies that result in the deportation of those already in the U.S.; as well as how service providers can support vulnerable individuals who are seeking asylum from human rights abuses.  The discussion will end with how providers can support individuals to become U.S. citizens so that they can advocate for themselves to affect positive changes in their own communities.

Fernando Chang-Muy is a lawyer, activist, and strategic business and leadership adviser. He is the Thomas O'Boyle Lecturer in Law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law. He also teaches courses at the Graduate School of Social Policy and Practice on topics such as US Immigration Law, International Human Rights and Refugee Law, and Non-Profit Leadership. He has expansive, parallel careers in immigration and refugee law, higher education, philanthropy, and leadership development: He served as a Legal Officer with both the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN World Health Organization (WHO), AIDS Program. He also served as the first director of Swarthmore College’s Intercultural Center, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, advisor to the Provost on Equal Opportunity, and lecturer on International Human Rights in the Peace and Conflict Studies. He began his legal career as a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia serving as Director of the Southeast Asian Refugee Project, providing free legal aid to low-income immigrants and refugees in Philadelphia. He is also past founding director of the Liberty Center for Survivors of Torture, a project of Lutheran Children and Family Services, established to serve newcomers fleeing human rights violations. In addition to teaching, he combines his experience in academia and operations, as principal and founder of Solutions International, providing independent management consulting, facilitation, and training to philanthropic institutions, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. His areas of expertise include designing and facilitating large group, action-focused strategic planning processes, board governance retreats, staff internal communications systems, resource development plans, and individual donor campaigns. His civic leadership volunteer positions include serving on the Leadership Council of the Philadelphia Cov-19 Fund, which raised 18M for grants to local nonprofits; Trustees of the Philadelphia Foundation serving on its Grantmaking Committee; Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific Islander Affairs; Commissioner to the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations; Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Multicultural and Immigration Transition Committee. He is a former Board member of the Philanthropy Network, The Philadelphia Award, The Merchants Fund, the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, and the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Coalition. He is the author of numerous articles on diverse topics dealing with immigration & refugees, public health, and management. He is co-editor of Social Work with Immigrants and Refugees (3rd ed. NY: Springer Publication, 2023) and contributing author to diverse publications. He is a graduate of Loyola, Georgetown, Antioch, and Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation. He is a recipient of both the 2011 and 2018 Penn Law Public Interest Supervisor/Advisor of the Year Awards honoring outstanding project supervisors and advisors; and the 2016 recipient of the Law School Beacon Award, recognizing exemplary commitment to pro bono work by a Penn Law faculty member.

This presentation will explore the varied experiences in the journey of migration for migrants and refugees. The journey of migration is a complex undertaking for migrants and refugees fraught with uncertainty.  While some make it to safety, many do not. Key considerations in attending to migrants and refugees need to take into account the migration experiences and the resilience of migrants and refugees in search of home and belonging. Objectives include gaining an understanding of the varied experiences of the journeys of migrants and refugees, identifying challenges and opportunities of migrant and refugee experiences, addressing important pathways to healing, and exploring strategies of advocacy in working with immigrant and refugee populations.

Hugo Kamya, Ph.D. is a Professor at Smith College, School for Social Work. He is a licensed independent clinical social worker and a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts. Before joining Smith, Dr. Kamya was Professor and Associate Director of the Center for Innovation in Clinical Social Work at Simmons University. He also served as the Social Work Alumni Fund Endowed Chair at Simmons University. He has taught research, clinical practice, trauma, family therapy, spirituality, group work, narrative practice, and working with complex and diverse populations. He combines an interest in social work, psychology, and theology. Dr. Kamya has an active practice with individuals, families, couples, and groups. His work has focused on immigrant and refugee populations as well as international efforts to assess the social service needs of people affected by HIV/AIDS and transactional sex. He practices, consults for, and develops collaborative partnerships with agencies and organizations, as well as presents nationally and internationally on multicultural, diversity, racial justice, and cultural sensitivity issues. He collaborates in Caring Across Communities, a project of community-based services for refugees and immigrants that examines social, cultural, and human capital toward family functioning and well-being. The project seeks to engage families and provide structures that support constructive conversations among families, communities, and practitioners. He is the American Family Therapy Academy recipient of the 2003 Distinguished Contribution to Social and Economic Justice Award. Dr. Kamya is a Fulbright scholar in the Fulbright Specialist Roster Program. Dr. Kamya is also a founding member of the Boston Institute for Culturally Affirming Practices (BICAP). Dr. Kamya’s research with immigrants, youth, and families, both nationally and internationally, focuses on the vulnerable populations of our society. His research is a commitment to caring across communities and to building effective partnerships among those communities. Since 2021, Dr. Kamya has collaborated and consulted with the Case Family Programs in their Child Welfare programs. This consultation with Casey has focused on addressing race, culture, and gender with Black, Brown, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities. Dr. Kamya has also supervised BIPOC clinicians at Massachusetts General Brigham in Boston. Dr. Kamya is actively engaged in research. He envisions research as a process informing the teaching and training of future professionals. In short, Dr. Kamya is a teacher who enjoys research. His research informs his teaching and vice versa. Dr. Kamya has extensive teaching experience at the master’s and Ph.D levels. His approach to teaching is to center learning around students’ needs. He values students’ input to their learning and sees students as adult learners. Dr. Kamya’s approach to teaching is to bridge the gap between theory and practice. His background as a practitioner has also helped to enrich classroom teaching. As a practitioner, he uses clinical material to support teaching. As a teacher, he also shares his research projects with students, making the classroom a lively experience for students. Dr. Kamya is a practicing researcher motivated by an unyielding sense of responsibility to capture best practices associated with knowledge management under complex, diverse, and uncertain conditions in the face of high stress, significant risk, and competing demands. The roots of his current scholarship can be traced directly to his practice. One organization Dr. Kamya has consulted with for over two decades is the African Community of Economic Development of New England (ACEDONE). ACEDONE was, and is still, committed to working with immigrant and marginalized communities including LGBTQ+, Muslim and African communities. ACEDONE addresses key issues affecting historically marginalized groups, anti-blackness, and Islamophobia.

As someone deeply familiar with this issue, I should address a common misconception about the refugees and migrants with disabilities. Many people assume that refugees and migrants with disabilities have an easy journey to their host countries. Nothing could be further from the truth. If we take the time to sit down and really listen to a refugee or migrant with disabilities, we will hear stories that could fill volumes - tales of unimaginable hardship, resilience, and courage that would move even the most stoic among us. These aren't just anecdotes; they're lived experiences that challenge our preconceptions and force us to confront uncomfortable realities. The journey for these individuals is fraught with obstacles that most of us can scarcely imagine. Physical barriers, discrimination, lack of accessible transportation and facilities - these are just the tip of the iceberg. Consider for a moment the challenges faced by someone with limited mobility trying to navigate dangerous terrain, or a person with visual impairment attempting to find their way in unfamiliar and often hostile environments. Then layer on top of that the general dangers and uncertainties that all refugees face - it's a worrying picture. But here's the thing: we need to shine a light on these stories. There's far too much stigma surrounding refugees and migrants with disabilities. People make assumptions about their backgrounds, their capabilities, their motivations. It's high time we challenge these notions and give voice to those who have been silenced for far too long. These individuals aren't just statistics or faceless masses. They're people with rich, complex lives and experiences. They have hopes, dreams, and ambitions just like anyone else. And their stories deserve to be heard - not just out of sympathy, but because they offer valuable perspectives on resilience, human rights, and the sheer power of the human spirit. So next time if you encounter a refugee or migrant with disabilities, I urge you to look beyond the surface. Take the time to listen, to understand. You might just find yourself authoring a new chapter in your own understanding of human perseverance and dignity.  This presentation will look at the journey of migration and the lived experiences of those migrating. The focus will primarily be on resettlement and what happens once they arrive here.  This entails information on the challenge of navigating complex social systems that aren't always equipped to meet the unique needs of  an individual with a disability.

Qusay Hussein is an education advocate, doctoral student, and motivational speaker. In 2006, Qusay survived a suicide bombing in Mosul, Iraq, sustaining multiple injuries and losing his sight. After 69 reconstructive surgeries, he transformed this traumatic experience into a drive to advocate for marginalized communities and individuals with disabilities. In 2010, Qusay traveled to Jordan for medical treatment. During his recovery, he volunteered as a patient-counselor for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), organizing recreational activities for patients recovering from war-related injuries. Qusay resettled in the United States in 2012, quickly integrating into American society by learning English and attending GED classes and later college. Qusay earned his BA, BSW, and MSW at the University of Texas at Austin where he is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Social Work. Qusay is extremely active in his community. He serves on the board of directors for Doctors Without Borders USA and is also a board member of Inter Faith Action of Central Texas. He is a member of the UT Austin Student Advisory Committee for students with disabilities, and is the co-chair of the Community Advisory Council for the Texas Center for Disability Studies. He is passionate about motivational speaking and educating about disability. When he has time, he can be found cheering for the Iraqi National Football Team.

Lucy Rabbaa is the Director of Social Services at Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) Pennsylvania, which supports low-income immigrants of all backgrounds through immigration legal services and an array of social services. The agency’s mission is to address immigrants’ needs, defend their rights, and advocate for their equitable inclusion in American society. She has been in this role since November 2020 and oversees the Social Services Department that houses the Refugee Reception & Placement, Employment, Health & Wellness, Education, and Humanitarian Family Reunification programs. She finds this work humbling and rewarding because her agency assists immigrants from arrival to citizenship by providing them with the tools they need to succeed and thrive in their new communities. Lucy has been working with refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants since 2007 when she interned with Amnesty International USA assisting asylum seekers in detention by providing them with the information about their legal rights and procedures and gathering evidence on the human rights abuses and violations in countries from which they fled for safety and protection. Since then, she has been working in various capacities including local refugee resettlement agencies, the Resettlement Support Center (RSC) in Bangkok, Thailand, and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) HQ, engaging in direct client services, processing refugee applications overseas, and managing an intensive case management program for vulnerable refugees resettled in the U.S., respectively. In addition, during the Mediterranean migration crisis in 2016, Lucy volunteered with two nonprofit organizations in Malta – Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) and Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants (FSM), supporting their search & rescue efforts and community integration programs for migrants and asylum seekers. One of the panelists at the panel discussion she is leading at this conference is her former colleague and a lifelong friend now that she met in Malta while volunteering to build a cultural competency curriculum with her to be used in community settings. Lucy has learned and experienced first-hand from working in transit and destination countries like Thailand and Malta about migrants’ journeys and their predicaments, trauma, hopes, dreams, aspirations, resilience, which help her ground herself in the work she does every day, which can be often challenging and demanding. Lucy is an immigrant from South Korea and a naturalized U.S. citizen. Her immigrant background and passion for traveling and learning new cultures and languages have led to visiting more than 60 countries thus far and counting. She received her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Temple University and her Master of Science (MSc) in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies from the University of Oxford. She holds a bachelor’s in arts (BA) in Linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley.

Marcelle Burgre Zanya was born in Malta, a small 36 km island in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, on the South of Sicily and North of Tunisia and Libya. Malta was a British colony until 1964, and the British military left in 1979 when Marcelle was still a child. Marcelle graduated with a certificate in physiotherapy in 1993, and worked with the Ministry of Health in Malta. From the late 1990’s, boats started arriving from Libya with asylum seekers from various African countries, who were detained in army barracks in the south of the island. Marcelle worked as a volunteer with migrant-led churches and the Malta Red Cross, visiting people in detention, alerting civil society organizations on persons with vulnerabilities, assisting those being released to find housing and employment, and pregnant women to access pre-natal and integration services. In 2008 Marcelle enrolled for a BA in Social Policy at the University of Malta. During the course she worked closely with Malta Red Cross and the NGO KOPIN, developing projects to improve self-reliance for refugee women, monitoring vulnerabilities in detention, and advocating for Filipino live-in domestic workers who were experiencing exploitation by some employers in Malta. She empowered and accompanied domestic workers to make complaints, negotiate with their employers and be able to testify in court, understanding the implication of their decisions. She spent a semester at George Mason University and worked with Farmworker Justice in Washington D.C., which advocates for the rights of Hispanic farmworkers in the U.S. This experience helped her develop a strong focus on self-representation within migrant and refugee communities. After completing her Master’s in Conflict Resolution with George Mason University, she worked with the Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants, supporting migrant and refugee communities to build a national support platform to promote peace-building and advocate for better access to education, social inclusion, and mental health. In 2020 Marcelle graduated with an MA in Social Work and focused her thesis on the cross-cultural context of social work with migrant women survivors of intimate partner violence. She worked with the national Domestic Violence Services, sensitizing social workers on the needs and rights of refugees and migrants. Today Marcelle lectures on Conflict Resolution and Cultural Mediation at the University of Malta. She feels that she has been greatly privileged to be working with such resilient people and communities, and that this experience has been her best school for life.

Nelofar Asadi, is from Afghanistan and is currently working to become a dental hygienist.  She had to leave her home country when the Taliban took over in 2021 and arrived in the U.S. in the same year as an unaccompanied minor.  She was separated from the rest of her family for almost 2 years when she was only 17 years old until they were able to be reunited in the U.S. in June 2023.  That day will be remembered as the happiest day of her life.  Her and her family's journey to the U.S. has taken so many turns, and they faced numerous obstacles along the way.  Despite many challenges, they forged on, and thanks to the local community's support, they were able to quickly adapt to their new life in the U.S.  They are grateful for the local supporters' warm welcome, unconditional love, and friendship that will last a lifetime.  Now, Nelofar wants to give back to the community by participating in community-led initiatives, helping others on their journeys, and advocating for women's rights, especially those whose educational rights have been taken away.