Washington is the nation’s third-largest refugee-receiving state, and as more families rebuild their lives here, access to strong support systems is essential. HealthPoint is a critical part of that support system – 75% of newly arrived refugees and immigrants in King County get their care with HealthPoint.
HealthPoint’s Refugee Health team meets that need by providing high-quality, culturally responsive care to newly arrived families. The Refugee Health program goes beyond healthcare to provide wrap-around services such as case management, connection to other services, translation, and individualized help navigating a complex and foreign healthcare system during a period of significant change and stress for these families.
Refugee Health Program Manager Fidelie Nawej describes the team as “a bridge of access between resettlement agencies, partners, and medical, dental, and mental health care.”
This bridge is strengthened not only through HealthPoint’s work, but with the support of philanthropic partners like the law firm Ogden Murphy Wallace (OMW).
OMW has demonstrated deep community commitment through generous philanthropic sponsorship of HealthPoint for many years, which helps sustain essential programs such as Refugee Health and the Asylum Seekers Program.
Most recently, OMW employees learned more about the Refugee Health Program's important work, purchased supplies, and assembled welcome kits filled with practical essentials for newly arrived families. These kits offered more than supplies—they delivered a message of dignity, welcome, and belonging to families taking their first steps toward stability.
How HealthPoint Supports Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Families
HealthPoint’s Refugee Health team welcomes families and helps them to care through short‑term, culturally responsive services, including:
- System education and navigation
- Community resource referrals
- Appointment and care coordination
- Transportation assistance
The Asylum Seekers Program expands these efforts, supporting unhoused families who face significant barriers in navigating the asylum process and accessing basic healthcare. The program reduces disparities by offering outreach care navigation, removing cost barriers, and connecting families with essential and long‑term health services.
A Partnership That Helps Families Thrive
Philanthropic partners like Ogden Murphy Wallace play an essential role in this work. Through their philanthropic support and hands‑on volunteerism, they help ensure that every person in King County can access compassionate, high‑quality care.