Advocacy Committee

Society members not only serve individuals, but also want to make the system better. Our Advocacy Committee hosts regular meetings on timely issues. Any Society member can attend meetings. Use our contact form to reach out if you want to join the Advocacy Committee’s leadership team.

Join this committee

Collaborative Impact
Work alongside dedicated professionals to drive meaningful change in refugee and immigrant healthcare through shared expertise and innovative ideas.
Professional Growth
Enhance your skills and knowledge by contributing to important projects, gaining experience, and learning from peers in the field.
Leadership Opportunities
Take on leadership roles within the committee, influencing the direction of healthcare initiatives and shaping policies that matter.

About the Advocacy Committee

Learn about our mission, our vision and download the committee charter. Resources and our leadership and members are below.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Advocacy Committee is to mobilize the expertise of healthcare and service providers to inform, protect, and advance rights and access to holistic care for refugee, migrant and forcibly communities.

Committee Vision

To support comprehensive and holistic access to care for the physical, emotional and social determinants of health needs for refugee, migrant and forcibly displaced communities.

Committee Charter

Learn more about our objectives.

Purpose

The purpose of the Advocacy Committee is to advance advocacy priorities related to refugee and migrant health that are identified by Advocacy Committee members and supported by the Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers. The Advocacy Committee creates a forum for professionals serving refugee, migrant and forcibly displaced communities to connect and advance advocacy strategies through increasing providers’ knowledge, capacity, and by sharing advocacy opportunities.

Goals & Responsibilities

The goals of the Advocacy Committee include, but are not limited to:

Inform and educate providers about current refugee and migrant health advocacy issues.
Offer practical opportunities for individual providers to engage in advocacy efforts.
Enhance the role of refugee and migrant community members as advocates to influence policies related to refugee health.
Increase awareness of issues supported by national and regional refugee and migrant advocacy groups in order to coordinate efforts.

Leadership & Members

Committee Chairs

Alison Beckman, MSW LICSW
Senior Clinician for External Relations
The Center for Victims of Torture

Katherine McKenzie, MD FACP
Associate Professor, Yale School of Medicine
Founder and Director, Yale Center for Asylum Medicine