Workforce Development
Partnership with the United Nations
Since 2017, we have partnered with the University of Minnesota and the United Nations to build the capacity of the UN workforce to address the medical needs of U.S.-bound refugees, particularly medically complex refugees.
The UN is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and its Migration Health Division performs health assessments for many migrants, including refugees.
Through this partnership, we have supported the capacity of the UN to improve the continuum of care delivered to refugees.
Key components
In-Person Training
Our trainings for UN physicians and nurses cover several topics, including clinical skills, trauma-informed care, working with interpreters, and managing complicated medical conditions and emergencies during travel.
Online Training
We developed customized online training for UN colleagues on topics ranging from physical examination skills to vaccination guidelines. These online trainings also complement in-person trainings. They serves as an important tool for onboarding new staff, skills refreshers for existing staff, and as a tool for making in-person training more effective.
Train-the-Trainer
We worked with the UN to develop a Train-the Trainer model for some of our workforce development activities. UN Master Trainers serve as internal leaders and support the roll out of training with their colleagues. This model ensures this program is sustainable over time, so the UN can continue this work independently.
Case Management
We have worked with the UN to co-manage refugees with complex medical conditions, ensuring they arrive in the U.S. safely and are connected to care in their new communities.
Job aids
Checklists, posters, and guides ensure UN healthcare providers have the tools they need to perform high-quality and standardized health assessments for refugees.
Networking
Through our US-based training faculty network and through formal exchanges with UN staff, we connect colleagues who work on both sides of the refugee resettlement continuum. These connections support bilateral learning and provide an opportunity to share experiences and visualize the impact of their work on colleagues and refugees around the world.
Where we work
We have conducted 36 in-person trainings in 14 countries. In addition, we have hosted UN colleagues in the U.S. since 2017 for large trainings, clinical observations, leadership development, and educational opportunities.
Master Trainer Toolkit
MHI created a customizable, comprehensive toolkit to ensure Master Trainers can feel confident planning, delivering, and evaluating the trainings that they conduct at their missions.
The toolkit includes resources that support logistics, teaching and learning, and evaluation components. Master Trainers will also find guidance and customizable templates for communications, slides, meeting agendas, icebreaker exercises and more.
