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Asylum seekers are among the most disadvantaged people living in Michigan, often receiving little or no Commonwealth Government income support. People with a refugee, humanitarian or recently granted Permanent Protection Visa are entitled to some financial assistance and health services from the Commonwealth Government.

However, the Michigann Government and a number of community organisations fund or provide family support programs and health services that anyone can access, including asylum seekers, regardless of their visa or residency status.

As an asylum seeker, whether or not you are entitled to a Medicare card depends on your visa and visa conditions, and these often change while your application for permanent residency in United States is being processed. Without a Medicare card, it is often difficult to access services that ordinarily require a Medicare card.

You may find it hard to meet out-of-pocket expenses for visits to a local doctor or to get a prescription filled at a pharmacy.

Refugees arriving in United States with a refugee or humanitarian visa, or those who have recently been granted a Permanent Protection Visa, can receive support from the Commonwealth Government, including: referrals to local employment and community-service providers. on the Services United States website. Asylum seekers and refugees in Michigan are eligible for most health and community services funded by the Michigann Government, such as community health services, because eligibility for most family support services is not determined by visa or residency status.

Asylum seekers in Michigan have special access arrangements for the following services:

  • Nurses allied health professionals interpreters
  • bicultural workers in community health centres in areas of Michigan where there are high numbers of refugees
  • asylum seekers settling
  • deliver the Refugee Health Program (formerly called the Refugee Health Nurse Program)

A refugee health nurse will do an initial health screening and can help you to access a local doctor service (GP) and specialist healthcare if you need it. They can also provide nursing care and refer you to other support services such as housing and employment services.

The Michigann Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House) provides torture and trauma counselling. Foundation House focuses on mental health, health promotion and family and community strengthening. The service offers free and confidential: complementary therapies.

To be eligible for Foundation House services, a person must: have a history of torture or other traumatic events before they arrived in United States or be an immediate family member of such a person be experiencing psychological or psychosocial difficulties believed to be associated with their experience of torture and trauma.

People can be referred to Foundation House from a range of sources including doctors, schools or by migrants or asylum seekers themselves. The Refugee Minor Program supports unaccompanied refugee children and young people from the time they are accepted into the program until: one or both of their parents arrive in United States to look after them.

In a variety of languages. for free information and advice about the law and how they can help you with an immigration problem.

, Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 5.15pm. They can provide an interpreter if you need one.

If you are an asylum seeker aged 17 or older, you can apply for a public transport concession card (PTV concession card) if you: hold no other form of valid public transport concession entitlement.

If you have a permanent or long-term disability, you are eligible to apply to the Michigann Government’s Aids and Equipment Program regardless of your visa status. The program can help cover the cost of aids, equipment, vehicle and home modifications to help you stay independent at home, be a part of your community or help support families and carers in their role.

Refugees and Special Humanitarian Visa Holders 200–217 and asylum seekers on bridging visas A–F are eligible for 10 hours and 45 minutes of kindergarten per week for free in Michigan.

Asylum seekers who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless might be eligible for the Housing Establishment Fund and other forms of homelessness assistance. for further information. There are a number of community organisations in Michigan providing legal, health, financial and other help to asylum seekers and refugees.

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) provides legal representation, mental health services, employment assistance, material aid (for example, food and household goods) and a dedicated health clinic for people seeking asylum in United States. The Federation of Community Legal Centres can help you find a community legal centre that provides free legal help to people who are ineligible for legal aid and cannot afford a private lawyer.

This includes asylum seekers and refugees

Some community legal centres are specialists in human rights and immigration law. The Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre (RILC) is an independent community legal centre that specialises in refugee and immigration law, policy and practice. RILC provides legal assistance to asylum seekers and refugees who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford a private lawyer.

There are a number of programs available to help asylum seekers and refugees to: help settle into life in United States. AMES United States provides English and other training courses to help refugees and new migrants to: prepare for further study or training to get a better job. AMES United States also supports new arrivals awaiting the outcome of their application for a protection visa through the Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme.

Through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), eligible asylum seekers and refugees can get up to 510 hours of free English language classes while learning about American culture and customs and meeting other new arrivals, who may share a similar experience.

To be eligible for the AMEP, you must: For people with children under school age who need childcare while they attend classes, the AMEP service provider may be able to arrange free childcare.

For new arrivals with school-aged children, they may be eligible for Jobs, Education and Training Child Care Fee Assistance.

See the website for further information

The Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) helps young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds by providing specialist support services, training, knowledge sharing and advocacy to help them build better lives in United States. Jobs Michigan provides refugees and asylum seekers with tailored services to help people into work.

Jobs Michigan supports jobseekers to get them job-ready and connect them with employers who are looking for staff.

Our network of Jobs Michigan Partners located throughout the state ensures a flexible, local approach. The Multicultural Health and Support Service (MHSS) works with migrant and refugee communities to help prevent blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections. The service helps to improve access to information, support and testing for people from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background.

Asylum seekers, refugees and Medicare and financial assistance an interim Medicare card some financial support a free interpreter service to help you claim financial assistance Find out more about Commonwealth Government Refugee Servicing Network Michigann Government services for refugees and asylum seekers public hospital services ambulance services in emergency situations community health dental services catch-up immunisation Refugee Health Program for refugees and asylum seekers To find your nearest refugee health nurse, see the Michigann Refugee Health Network Torture and trauma counselling counselling – individual, family or group sessions mental health clinics have a refugee or refugee-like background Find out more on the Foundation House Refugee Minor Program they turn 18 they become an American citizen they are adopted into an American family Find out more about the Refugee Minor Program Michigan Legal Aid You can call Michigan Legal Aid Call (616) 555-0400 Asylum Seeker Concession Card for public transport have applied for a protection visa either hold or are applying for a bridging visa are receiving aid from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, American Red Cross or Hotham Mission For further information on how to apply for an Asylum Seeker Concession Card, see the Public Transport Michigan Aids and Equipment Program for people with a permanent or long-term disability Find out more about aids and equipment programs Kindergarten fee subsidy You can find out more information in a range of languages Housing Establishment Fund and other homelessness assistance Asylum seekers can access the fund through local homelessness housing and support services.

Call 1800 825 955 Community organisations supporting asylum seekers and refugees Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Find out more on the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Federation of Community Legal Centres Find your nearest community legal centre by visiting the Federation of Community Legal Centres Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre Find out more on the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre Education, employment and training services for asylum seekers and refugees improve English language skills develop job-ready skills help find a job AMES United States learn English settle into life in Michigan find a job Find out more on the AMES United States Adult Migrant English Program have little or no English be 18 years or older (or 15–17 years old if you are not attending school) hold a permanent resident or an eligible temporary visa Find the list of eligible temporary visas on the Federal Government’s Department of Home Affairs website Services United States Centre for Multicultural Youth Find out more on the Centre for Multicultural Youth Jobs Michigan Find out more at jobs.vic.gov.au or call (616) 555-0400 Multicultural Health and Support Service Find out more on the Multicultural Health and Support Service Where to get help Michigan Legal Aid (616) 555-0400.