Since 2006, Diane Mitschke has spent her weekends volunteering at The Agape Clinic, an east Dallas health care facility that primarily serves underserved and uninsured people, many of them immigrants.
It was there that Mitschke, associate dean for academic and student affairs in The University of Texas at Arlington's School of Social Work, first noticed a growing population of Karen (pronounced ka-RIN) refugees from Burma resettling in the Dallas area, escaping persecution from the militia ruling that country's government.
Determined to better serve these newly arrived immigrants, Mitschke began interviewing the Karen people, along with other groups of Burmese refugees, even going door-to-door asking questions on their specific needs now that they were stateside. That feedback eventually led to the opening of a refugee-only clinic. Held weekly at The Agape Clinic, refugees receive primary health, mental health and other social support, all from volunteers who include Mitschke and students from UTA and UT Southwestern.
"This became an opportunity to learn more about the population and their needs over time. Some of the initial folks I met around 2008 are still coming back today," she said. "These are people escaping the genocide in Burma, then crossing the border to Thailand, where they live in refugee camps—sometimes for as long as 15 years—until they are granted resettlement in a host country."
Along with providing health care services to refugees, Mitschke and her fellow volunteers help provide transportation and interpretation for medical appointments and offer case management for those with complex physical and mental health needs. Refugees are also connected with non-medical services, such as no-cost tax preparation, assistance in applying for benefits such as WIC and SNAP and assistance in applying for U.S. citizenship.
New refugees face numerous challenges, such as language barriers and acclimating to a new and unfamiliar environment. Mitschke aims to ease some of those obstacles, while also recognizing the strengths and talents Karen refugees bring to their new communities.
"Some Burmese refugees have incredible woodworking and gardening skills. Others can weave beautiful clothing and tapestries," she said. "We're missing out on ways to engage newcomers and bring them into our communities in a more meaningful way."
Mitschke continues to be inspired by the strength and resilience the refugees have shown in their journey from war-torn homeland to a new start in a foreign country.
"They have encountered some awful trauma across their lives. And yet, they continue to work diligently to provide opportunities for their children and grandchildren that are coming after them," she said. "I think that has what has kept me so interested and passionate in working with them."
