Immigrants and Refugees – How FCNs Can Help
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Virtual: 9:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Central Time
Log – In Information
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4703446808?pwd=SFpvMisvWFpiL2dscVBVcHAzbDVtdz09
Meeting ID: 470 344 6808
Passcode: FCNNTC23
* This meeting will be recorded and shared the week following the event.
Visit our Virtual Exhibit Hall to learn about our program sponsors!
Description: Nurses have both a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice and vulnerable populations. Immigrants and refugees are considered some of the most vulnerable. This session provides a broad overview of immigration and the resources FCNs should be aware of.
This symposium addresses these ANA Scope and Standards of Practice for FCNs:
Standard 7: Ethics and Standard 8: Culturally Congruent Practice
Learning Outcomes: Participants will be able to
1. Identify the percentages of immigrant populations in Minnesota and the U.S and future
predictions.
2. Describe 5 major needs of refugee, immigrant and migrant communities and individuals.
3. List the top health needs of these populations that FCNs might help address.
4. Identify reliable resources in Minnesota and U.S. including those relevant to any changing
policies regarding immigration.
5. Identify spiritual needs of these populations and ways an FCN might help immigrants and
refugees from a whole-person health perspective, including spiritual care.
Schedule:
8:50-9:10 a.m. Sign into Zoom
9:15 Welcome and Prayer –Susan O’Connell, Education Committee
9:20 FCNN Update Cheryl Lanigan and Sondra Weinzierl
9:35 Presentation by Esteban Cortez and Mikyla Denny
10:45 Break
10:55 Sponsor and Collaborative Partner Presentations
11:20 Presentation by Mickey Ellis
12:15 Break
12:25 Spiritual Care of Immigrants and Refugees, Yisehak Tura & Sondra Weinzierl
12:55 Evaluation and Adjourn
This symposium has been designed to meet the Minnesota Board of Nursing requirements for three (3) continuing education credits for RNs in Minnesota. Other participants should check to see if these credits apply to their continuing education requirements.
Presenters:
Esteban Perez Cortez, MA, Volunteer and Outreach Specialist, Refugee Services,Minnesota Council of Churches Esteban has a Master’s Degree from the University of Minnesota in Heritage Studies and Public History. His work experience includes Interpretive Developer at the American Swedish Institute. As Outreach Specialist at MCC Refugee Services, he recruits and oversees co-sponsor groups, which are community groups that are assigned to families to help them navigate living in the US for their first 6 months. He also helps in many other aspects of MCC Refugee Services including interpreting, driving clients, training, benefits enrollment.
Mikyla Denney, MA, Immigration Legal Services, Refugee Services, Minnesota Council of Churches Mikyla has a Master’s Degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs in Human Rights with a concentration in Immigration/Migration. Before completing her Master’s, Mikyla completed a year of service program where she worked with Catholic Charities in their New American Services Program working with refugee resettlement. At the Minnesota Council of Churches, she serves as a DOJ Accredited Representative providing immigration legal services such as helping people apply for green cards, citizenship, work permits, and family reunification, among other services.
Mickey Ellis, RN, PHN, FNP Mickey received her BSN from Fort Hays State School of Nursing in Kansas and her Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate from Kansas University School of Nursing. She worked in small rural hospitals and started a County Community Health Department, worked in Student Health at Fort Hays State University and as a Nurse Consultant for the KS Department of Health. She has experience working in Home Health and case management. Most recently, she worked for Hennepin County as the Policy Administrator for the MN Medicaid Home Care Program. Now retired, Mickey serves as a volunteer helping a family who moved to Minnesota from Afghanistan.
Yisehak Tura, MSN, RN, Faith Community Nurse Yisehak is the Oncology Clinical Educator for the Upper Midwest covering MN, IA, SD, ND and WI. with Janssen Biotech, a leading biotechnology company that develops and delivers innovative treatments for patients with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. In 2007 he was the founder and coordinator of the first Ethiopian Orthodox Church based Faith Community Health Program. He serves as an unpaid FCN at Tserha Aryam Kidist Selassie (TAKS) He coordinates health education and provides resources to the community and has secured grant funding for community health education and vaccinations. His dedication to his community has been recognized by Metropolitan State University which named him one of 40 Alumni who made a difference in their community. He is active in the Health Ministry program in his church and is on the FCNN Board of Directors.
Sondra Weinzierl, MA,BAN, Faith Community Nurse Sondra received her Bachelors in Nursing degree from Gustavus Adolphus College and her Masters of Arts degree from the University of St. Thomas in Adult Education. She’s provided workshops, team facilitation, strategic planning and health promotion consultation to a wide variety of organizations in government, health care, education and industry. She served as an FCN in faith communities in Boston, MA and in Minnesota. She currently serves as Director of Education for the Faith Community Nurse Network designing and delivering education programs for health professionals.
Materials for Symposium & Resources
- Documentation for CEUs
- Program Guide
- Main Powerpoint Presentation with Spiritual Care Segment
- MN Council on Churches PowerPoint Slides
- Resources for Refugees and Immigrants
- Definitions
- Referral List
- Reference Flowchart (This resource may not be current due to current status of federal government agency practices and the pause on refugee programs).
- Resource Flyer – Immigrant Connection at Waite Park Church
- ICE Raids Article– “Can ICE now raid churches, schools and hospitals? What we can VERIFY”
