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FOSTERING RESILIENCE IN REFUGEE CHILDREN & FAMILIES

SESSION OUTLINE

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Refugee 101Overview of refugees globally, in the U.S., and in Nebraska

1ResilienceIntroduction to indicators of resilience in refugee populations

2Refugee Family

WellbeingFactors that affect the health and wellbeing of refugee children and families

3Strengths-based

StrategiesReview of strengths-based strategies to foster refugee wellbeing

4Review &

ConclusionSummary and wrap-up

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REFUGEE 101

We will cover the following:

Who are Refugees?

Global Situation of Refugees

Refugees in Nebraska

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1“WHAT WOULD YOU CARRY?”

You are sitting with your family when a friend calls, notifying you that a rebel militia has entered your town. You estimate that you have approximately 5 minutes to leave your home undetected in order to cross the border into safety.

What would you bring with you?

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WHO ARE REFUGEES?

A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee – and is unable to return to – her or his country because of persecution, war, or violence. Reasons of persecution include:

Race / ethnicity

Religion

Nationality

Political opinion

Membership in a social group6

GLOBAL SITUATION OF REFUGEES

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GLOBAL SITUATION OF REFUGEES

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GLOBAL SITUATION OF REFUGEES

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U.S. REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

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REFUGEES IN NEBRASKA

Largest number of refugees per capita in 2016 (Pew Research Center, 2016)

Resettlement and ethnic community-based organizations

High secondary migration, including rural Nebraska

Range of health and social service agencies

New Americans Task Force (NATF) “Light the Way for Refugees & Immigrants” Vigil, Omaha Source: Washington Post, 2017

Source: wikimedia

RESILIENCE

We will cover the following:

Defining Resilience

Fostering Resilience

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WHAT IS RESILIENCE?

Positive adaptation in face of extreme adversity (Masten & Powell, 2003)

Capacity to navigate and negotiate resources that promote wellbeing (Ungar, 2006; Tippens, 2017, 2019)

“World building” & meaning-making (Nordstron, 1998; Walsh, 2003)

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Resilience does not come from rare and special qualities, but from the everyday magic of ordinary, normative human resources in the minds, brains, and bodies of

[individuals], in their families and relationships, and in their communities.

Dr. Ann S. MastenProfessor

College of Education & Human DevelopmentUniversity of Minnesota

What indicators of resilience have you observed working with refugee

clients and communities?

DiscussionWrite – Pair - Share

Factors that Foster Refugees’ Resilience

Cultural, Policy, Eco-Social

Maintaining traditions, supportive policies,

network of community resources

CommunitySupport from peers, ethnic

communities, religious networks, and organizations

Family, HouseholdFamily support,

intergenerational living, social role(s)

Individual

Language, Spirituality

Adapted from Tippens, J. A. (2019). Urban Congolese refugees’ social capital and community resilience during a

period of political violence in Kenya: A qualitative study. Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies, 1-18.

REFUGEE FAMILY HEALTH & WELLBEING

We will cover the following:

Children’s Health and Wellbeing

Refugee Families

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REFUGEE WELLBEING IS A CHILDREN’S ISSUE

Image: CNNSource: UNICEF,

2017

REFUGEE CHILDREN’S HEALTH RISKS

Poor access to care Health infrastructure & workforce (Carruth, 2014; Crisp et al., 2008; Mowafi et al., 2007; WHO, 2016)

Marginalization, illegalization and right to health (Willen, 2012)

Medical pluralism and access to care (Carruth, 2014)

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REFUGEE CHILDREN’S HEALTH RISKS

Mental health & psychosocial wellbeing Exposure to trauma and violence (Fazel et al., 2014)

Maternal mental health (Betancourt et al., 2007; Fazel et al., 2014; Tol et al., 2011)

Family separation, & inconsistent caregiving (Fazel et al., 2014)

REFUGEE CHILDREN’S HEALTH RISKS

Physical health Physical disabilities (Andersson, 1995; de Jong, 2010; Tamashiro, 2011)

Nutrition (maternal & child) (Bhutta et al., 2013)

Communicable disease risk (e.g., cholera, malaria, STIs) (Jafari et al., 2011)

Chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes) (Elliott et al., 2018; Rehr et al., 2018)

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REFUGEE FAMILIES & WELLBEING

Lewig, Arney, & Salveron, 2009 22

REFUGEE FAMILIES & WELLBEING

Lewig, Arney, & Salveron, 2009

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REFUGEE FAMILIES & WELLBEING

Lewig, Arney, & Salveron, 2009

STRENGTHS-BASED PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIESWe will cover the following:

Strengths-based approach overview

Strategies to work with children and families

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Why Use a Strengths-Based Approach?

Identifies and strengthens supportive networks and community resilience

Why Use a Strengths-Based Approach?

Identifies and strengthens supportive networks and community resilience

Fosters trust among service providers, clients,

and their families and communities

Why Use a Strengths-Based Approach?

Helps clients recognize and celebrate their unique strengths and cultural assets

Identifies and strengthens supportive networks and community resilience

Fosters trust among service providers, clients,

and their families and communities

Why Use a Strengths-Based Approach?

Helps clients recognize and celebrate their unique strengths and cultural assets

Identifies and strengthens supportive networks and community resilience

Fosters trust among service providers, clients,

and their families and communities

Goal-oriented and helps clients identify stepping

stones for success

Why Use a Strengths-Based Approach?Approaches Strategies

1 Empowering orientationBase services on individuals’, families’, and communities’ strengths and empower them to do things for themselves

2 Cultural humilityUnderstand and value culture as a source of strength: work with clients to develop a sense of cultural pride and to find ways to maintain traditions while adjusting to a new place

3 Relationship-based orientationDevelop supportive relationships between program staff and clients (and their families and communities)

4Improve relationships within and across families and communities

Focus on strengthening families, communities, and other sources of support

5Active partnering between family members and program staff

Recognize clients’ supportive networks and foster trust between those networks and program staff

10 Principles for a Strengths-Based Approach

Adapted from: Green, B. L., McAllister, C. L., & Tarte, J. M. (2004). The strengths-based practices inventory: A tool for measuring strengths-based service delivery in early

childhood and family support programs. Families in Society, 85(3), 326-334.

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Approaches Strategies

10 Principles for a Strengths-Based Approach

6 Community orientation Be sensitive to a community’s history and acknowledge how this may contribute to both challenges and strengths the resettlement context

7Knowledge of community-based providers

Build relationships with service providers outside of refugee resettlement to be able to refer refugees to the full spectrum of available resources

8Family- and community-centered orientation

Include the family (including “fictive kin”) and community rather than focus services on specific individuals or clients

9 Goal-orientation Work with individuals, families, and communities to identify long-term goals; help identity the stepping stones needed to meet these goals

10 Individualization Adapt services to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families, and communities

Adapted from: Green, B. L., McAllister, C. L., & Tarte, J. M. (2004). The strengths-based practices inventory: A tool for measuring strengths-based service delivery in early

childhood and family support programs. Families in Society, 85(3), 326-334.

What are some strengths-basedstrategies you use in your work?

DiscussionWrite – Pair - Share

STRATEGIES TO WORK WITH REFUGEE CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Incorporate Principles of Cultural Humility Be humble and recognize that every culture has unique strengths. Incorporate stories (e.g., books)

and words from different cultures and languages to help children feel welcome.

Build Relationships with Parents Be respectful, adaptable, and use (gentle) humor to foster trust.

Highlight and focus on children’s successes to parents.

Always use interpreters when working with parents. (Do not have children interpret.)

Recognize time constraints (e.g., second- and third-shift work is common among refugees)

STRATEGIES TO WORK WITH REFUGEE CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Engage Community and Religious Leaders Identify important stakeholders in each refugee community.

Develop diverse (community) advisory boards to help guide your work.

Use refugee resettlement agencies and ethnic community-based organizations as resources.

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EXAMPLE 1: SUPPORT PARENTING IN A NEW PLACE

Provide parents with information about laws in the U.S. / Nebraska (e.g., child protection laws)

Create a list of local supports and services to give to parents when children enter program

Consider how you will share information (e.g., PTA, working group, pamphlets, etc.)

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EXAMPLE 2: CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE CHILDCARE

Consider the importance of food (e.g., Muslim children will likely not eat pork)

Consider inviting grandparents or other community elders into classroom and daycare settings to share culture

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WRAPPING-UP

Today we covered:

Who refugees are;Resilience and refugee family wellbeing; and Strengths-based strategies to work with refugee children and families

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THANK YOU! QUESTIONS?