Jericho Road focuses on helping refugees

By Kristina Ferris and Megan Kreps
BengalNews Reporters
 The growth of the Burmese population has significantly added to Buffalo’s diversity. Recently, the Burmese population is the fastest growing of all the refugee groups in the city and, many refugee organizations have been affected by the influx of new refugee population.
 In the 2000 Census, the Burmese population was so small that it did not even have a ranking. By 2010, there were about 4,000 Burmese living in the Queen City and that number has only grown since. Refugee assistance programs have also had to accommodate the growing number.

At the Jericho Road Ministries drop in center, refugees receive help assimilating into society. Translators guide them through job hunting, medical care, and even legal advice:


Jericho Road Ministries is one refugee center that has had to adapt to the needs of the growing Burmese population. The organization has had to go out in the community to find translators to help the growing number of Burma refugees. Burma is just one of 15 refugee countries that Jericho Road Ministries represents, among 30 different languages. Past recipients of the organization have come back as volunteers to help translate the language and make the transition phase easier for refugees.
 Jericho Road takes pride in that they do not operate as a donation center for refugees but rather a “parent-like” organization that provides skills to refugees in order to teach them how to go about daily living in America
 Jericho Road Ministries began as a family practice started by Dr. Myron Glick in 1997 at 184 Barton Street. According to Eric Budin, director of partner development, Dr. Glick could be making significantly more money, but instead started his own practice to help better the community and refugees that have no place else to turn.
 Since opening the family practice, the non-profit faith based organization has added the drop-in center located at 233 West Ferry. The drop-in center focuses on providing medical and legal assistance to refugees. It is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for open visits. During these appointments, families can come in and meet with health care providers for different medical issues, including vaccinations for themselves and their children.
 Program Coordinator for the drop-in center, Krista Schwartzott, said that the most difficult refugees come to them with questions regarding medical information, and that explaining what medicine is used for what certain symptom.
 Schwartzott went on to say that after being referred to the doctors, many refugees still do not understand how to properly take their prescriptions. Translators are on hand to explain what medicine to take and when to take it, and even quiz them on their understanding of the medications.
 The center is the home of the Priscilla Project, which aides to pregnant women in receiving adequate prenatal care as well as helping after the birth of their baby. Anna Ireland, director of health and family services, described the hospitals these refugees are coming from are “death hospitals” where people only go when they are close to death.
 The drop-in center also provides assistance to refugees looking for certain programs or institutes. The shuttle takes them to set up banks accounts, dentist appointments, clothing stores, or even job interviews. The volunteers help translate and correctly set up these
 The work of Jericho Road Ministries is that of great importance to the refugees. Employees and volunteers of the foundation get value out of teaching people coming from refugee countries how to get along in their new home. Edited by Michael Tellier