News: Sept 15-22 is National Welcoming Week
Nationwide community events to promote spirit of unity between U.S. and foreign-born Americans. Find events in your area or download Welcoming Week resources to launch the campaign in your neighborhood!

News: Phone scams targeting refugees make a resurgence
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) reminds everyone to be wary of unsolicited calls and messages that promise federal grants or other “free” money to refugees. Incidents of these phone scams appear to be on the rise again.  Refugees receiving the calls are told that they are eligible for thousands of dollars in federal grant money—all theirs once they send a few hundred dollars by wire transfer to cover “processing fees”—or better yet, just send their bank account information so the funds can be deposited directly.

Also, in recent weeks, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) learned of a new telephone scam targeting USCIS applicants and petitioners. Scammers are using a technique called “Caller ID spoofing” to display a misleading or inaccurate phone number in a recipient’s Caller ID. The scammer poses as a USCIS official and requests personal information (such as Social Security number, passport number, or A-number), identifies supposed issues in the recipient’s immigration records, and asks for payment to correct these records.  If you receive a call like that, USCIS urges you to say “No, thank you” and hang up immediately.  USCIS never asks for any form of payment or personal information over the phone. DO NOT give payment or personal information over the phone to anyone who claims to be a USCIS official.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is following these scam attempts, and encourages anyone contacted with similar scams to report them through the FTC website. Their Consumer Alert provides valuable tips on how to avoid being victimized, and what to do in case you are contacted.  They also set up a web page, Avoiding Scams Against Immigrants, with information and materials in several languages.

News: States and their Health Insurance Marketplaces
Profiles on each state’s progress towards establishing and funding their health insurance marketplace.

News: Outreach and Enrollment Assistance
Health centers around the country received $150 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help people access new health coverage options available through the Affordable Care Act.

News: The Ethiopian Community Development Council is issuing a call for workshop proposals for the 19th Annual National Conference to be held on May 16-17, 2013 at the Sheraton Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia. For more information, please contact Senay Gebremedhin at senayhg@ecdcus.org.
All proposals must be received by February 1, 2013.

News: North American Refugee Health Conference: Call for Abstracts Deadline Extended
The North American Refugee Health Conference is recognized as the premier conference for those who work with refugee populations. In preparation for the 2013 North American Refugee Health Conference, submissions of posters and oral abstracts are being accepted. A limited number of workshops will also be considered. Abstract acceptance deadline extended to Jan 10, 2013.

News: Release of the updated National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
U.S. Surgeon General and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
New National Strategy for Suicide Prevention updates previous strategy that was created in 2001.  The new strategy calls upon everyone to watch for suicide warning signs and reach out to prevent suicide.

News: Proposed Refugee Admissions for FY 2013: Report to Congress was just released at the end of September 2012.  The report is prepared by the U.S. Departments of State, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services. It contains information on refugee situations, proposed refugee admissions, and plans for resettlement.

News: Registration now open for 2013 North American Refugee Health Conference!
The North American Refugee Health Conference will be held on June 6-8, 2013 in Toronto, Canada. Join health professionals from U.S. and Canada to discuss evidence-based strategies, research, advocacy, and mobilization for refugee health and mental health. Submit a poster or oral abstract by December 3, 2012.

News: Syria Emergency and UNHCR Resources for Refugees and Families
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its partners are working to assist and protect Syrians, Iraqis, and other third country national refugees displaced by violence in Syria.Visit UNHCR’s website to access information for asylum seekers, refugees with pending resettlement cases, immigrant visa applicants, and U.S. family members concerned for their relatives in Syria.