On April 5, FIRM was recognized as a “2011 Public Health Champion” by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors for its work benefiting the health and well being of Fresno County residents. The award was selected by the Fresno County Department of Public Health, in honor of FIRM’s partnership in reducing children’s exposure to lead poisoning through education and training for parents, merchants, housing contractors, and other organizations. FIRM played a major role in founding the area’s first ever city-county-community “Lead Hazard Reduction and Outreach Collaborative.” The collaborative has worked consistently to develop, and now to implement, a county-wide “Blueprint to End Lead Poisoning.”
Here’s the text of the recognition that was read at the Board of Supervisors Meeting on April 5, 2011:
FIRM is a faith-based, non-profit organization that serves the needs of over 6,500 refugees, primarily of Southeast Asian, Slavic, and African origin, in Fresno. FIRM’s services include neighborhood/youth outreach and enrichment programs, elder citizenship, hot meals and advocacy, community gardens, health navigation and policy work, culturally appropriate community organizing, a state-licensed preschool, employment projects, and English classes.
FIRM was incorporated in January 1994, but traces its history back to many years of prior work in refugee resettlements. Most of FIRM’s approximately 24 staff entered the U.S. with refugee status, and all have had significant international work and living experiences. Today, as one of the country’s uniquely interdenominational faith-based refugee ministry teams, FIRM provides cross-cultural resources, consultations and referrals for refugees.
FIRM collaborates with the Department’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program to reduce children’s exposure to lead-based paints and other sources of lead. FIRM conducts educational sessions with parents, caregivers, merchants, contractors and others in the community about the danger of lead exposure to a child’s health and development. FIRM has worked together with Department staff, city staff, and community based organizations to form and support the work of a “Fresno County Lead Hazard Reduction and Outreach Collaborative.”
FIRM exemplifies the kind of community partnership that furthers the Department’s goal to help new Americans achieve optimal health.