Promoting Refugee and Community Wellness

Welcoming America received $225,000 through competitive funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant

#90RB0050. This project is financed with 100% of Federal funds. The contents of this PowerPoint are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

Today’s Objectives

• Gain a better understanding of the connections between positive health and wellbeing and fostering a welcoming community climate

• Be inspired to work with at least one new community partner from a different sector to advance this work at the local level

• Leave with concrete ideas of the next steps you can undertake in this area.

Agenda

• Review of the Guide

• Examples from the Field

• Moderated Panelist Discussion

• Questions?

Overview of the Guide

Jennifer Lange

Director, National Partnership for Community Training

• Program of Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services (Gulf Coast JFCS)

• National Technical Assistance Provider for Refugee Mental Health

• Builds capacity

• TA provision for 12 years

About National Partnership for Community Training

The Refugee Journey: Wellness Challenges and Opportunities

• Grief

• Transition

• Adjustment

• The Role of Community

Refugee Wellness is Community Wellness

• Connections between wellness, mental health, and community

• Contributing to refugee resiliency

Promising Practices Snapshots

Putting it All Together:

The Welcoming Community Map

Experts Featured in the Guide

Josh Hinson, University of North Carolina

Xouhoa Bowen, Community Impact Lab

Research Questions

● Do refugees need mental

health services?

● Do refugees want mental

health services?

● Will refugees engage in

mental health treatment?

● Will mental health

treatment help?

Doing the Work

Bridging

Connecting refugees to

services

Direct Support

Filling gaps in community resources

Capacity-Building

Helping communities rise to the challenge

Empowering Families to Support Families

Lift Me Up

Gift Boxes

Community Baby Shower

Resource Guide

Keys to Successful Volunteer Projects

● Identify small, tangible actions community members can take

● Partner with organizations to fill gaps in support

● Design family-oriented activities

● Share ownership of collaborations with volunteers

● Foster awareness through digestible educational opportunities

● Focus on shared experiences and commonalities

Welcoming Communities and Wellness: A Conversation

Jennifer Lange

Xouhoa Bowen

Josh Hinson

Susan Downs-Karkos,

Moderator

QUESTIONS?

Welcoming Interactive 2018

June 18-20, 2018

Louisville, Kentucky

Welcominginteractive.org

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