1. Lessons in Innovation for Refugee Women, Children and Youth World Federation of Mental Health 2007 Conference Presenters: Kathleen Connors, Ph.D. –Georgia Coalition for Refugee Mental Health Monica McGannon, LCSW – DeKalb County Community Services Board Jeff Atkinson, LPC – Co-founder/lead Therapist- Attachment and Bonding Center of Atlanta, LLC

2. Summary of Pilot Program and Lessons Learned (Kathleen) Collaborative inter-agency orientation: DFCS, Juvenile Justice, Community Mental Health, Immigration, Private in-home therapy provider, Food Bank, Schools, Refugee Centers Collaborative Approach Partnering of professionals as a treatment teamComplimentary Training for treatment team (i.e., case workers, clinicians, interpreters, etc)- A must for all professionals involved in working with the refugee families. Seven different countries represented.

3. Treating Refugee Women (Monica) Women from 10-12 countries represented on caseload (Liberia, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Sierra Leon, Ethiopia, Sudan). Engagement session. Treatment interventions for Refugee Mothers. Transitioning of Families

4. Treating refugee Children (Jeff) Summary of demographics. Summary of Mental Health Disorders Summary of Outcome Treatment Interventions Cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, solution-focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Outreach to the school Hospital coordination Discharge Planning

5. Demographics for Refugee Youth CountryGenderAgeTrauma SomaliaF15War AfghanistanF16Domestic Violence LiberiaF10War HaitiF18Domestic Violence Ethiopia*M13Sexual molestation LiberiaM15War MexicoM13Loss of mother (car accident) SomaliaF17War/Domestic Violence

6. Treatment Outcome Stats for Refugee Youth CountryGenderAgeCAFAS (1)CAFAS(2) SomaliaF1580 80 AfghanistanF1630 0 LiberiaF105030 HaitiF186030 Ethiopia*M1330 0 LiberiaM157070 MexicoM139040 SomaliaF175020 Totals41% Improvement in overall functioning *Trauma symptom Checklist used-showed significant change in overall symptoms.

7. Factors in success of treatment for youth Consistency in service delivery. Clients wanted to change. Parents supportive of Treatment Faith in therapist and outcome of treatment. Cultural Diversity training of providers. Pre-treatment improvement. Inter-agency treatment approach. Outreach to schools.

8. Close (Kathleen) Question and Answer

9. Kathleen Connors, Ph.D. –Georgia Coalition for Refugee Mental Health knowingsoul@earthlink.net Monica McGannon – DeKalb County Community Services Board monicah@dekalbcsb.org404-243-9500 Jeff Atkinson, LPC – Co-founder/lead Therapist- Attachment and Bonding Center of Atlanta, LLC jeffatkinsonlpc@yahoo.com 678-406-9707 Thanks for listening! knowingsoul@earthlink.netmonicah@dekalbcsb.org jeffatkinsonlpc@yahoo.com