Russian speakers in US

[Donna Erbs]

I had to leave in a rush this morning, and there was more I wanted to 
say directly relating to your question.  The patterns of recent 
immigration of political/religious refugees from the FSU to the US have 
a lot to do with the groups that have sponsored them in this country.  
Certain churches evangelize in the FSU, thus affecting who settles where 
(here).  Even among the Jews there is some of this, in so far as many of 
the Jews in PDX are from the Ukraine and Moscow, sponsored (and settled 
here) in large part by locals chapters of prominent Jewish organizations 
and synagogues.

On the other hand, more established Russian-speaking communities on the 
East Coast e.g. Brighton Beach NY)may or may not have the same 
constitution.

Well, those were the last thoughts I had.  Let me know if you need 
anything else.  In my other job, I work for Clackamas County as health 
educator for the Breast and Cervical Health Program.  I just wrote a 
grant with the research arm of a local hospital system to hire a 
1/2-time Russian-speaking health educator to recruit for the metro 
counties' BCC programs.  My county also collaborates with Russian Oregon 
Social Services to promote our program and enroll Russian-speaking 
clients.

Donna Erbs, MPH, CHES
Kaiser Permanente/Clackamas County
(503) 240-3916
(503) 722-6272

----Original Message Follows----
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 15:58:16 -0700
Reply-To: pnwhealth at u.washington.edu
From: "Sandra Smith, MPH, CHES" <sandras at u.washington.edu>
To: "Pacific Northwest Health Educators" <pnwhealth at u.washington.edu>
Subject: Russian speakers in US

Greetings Listmates:
We are translating and adapting
perinatal health information for
Russian speakers in the US. The
group we are working with are
a community in Oregon. They are
a religious group with refugee status.
As Pentacostals they are offended
by info on sexuality and birth control.
We want to develop materials that
will be useful and appropriatefor as
many Russian speakers as possible,
recognizing that the materials may
have to be further tailored for certain
communities - perhaps this Oregon group.

And we are chewing on the dilemma
of how to balance cultural sensitivity
and important public health messages.

Can anyone on the list tell us if this
Oregon group is representative of
Russian speakers in the US. Or,
asked another way, what proportion
of US Russian speakers are
Pentacostal.  Any comments from
others who haveworked with
Russian immigrant populations
are welcome. Thanks in advance
for your assistance. SS
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Sandra Smith, MPH, CHES
sandras at u.washington.edu
Editor, Beginnings: A Practical Guide
Through Your Pregnancy
Editor, http://www.PrenatalEd.com
Practice Development, Inc.
2821 2nd Avenue #1601
Seattle WA 98121

Health Education Specialist
UW Center for Health Education &
Research
901 Boren Avenue #1100
Seattle WA 98104-3508

Phone 206-441-7046
Fax     206-728-1926
Campus  Mail 359932





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