1. 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.

2. 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. -

3. Agenda Review of the Guide Examples from the Field
Moderated Panelist Discussion
Questions?

4. Overview of the Guide
Jennifer Lange Director, National Partnership for Community Training

5. About 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

6. The Refugee Journey: Wellness Challenges and Opportunities
Grief
Transition
Adjustment
The Role of Community

7. Refugee Wellness is Community Wellness
Connections between wellness, mental health, and community
Contributing to refugee resiliency

8. Promising Practices Snapshots

9. Putting it All Together: The Welcoming Community Map

10. Experts Featured in the Guide
Josh Hinson, University of North Carolina Xouhoa Bowen, Community Impact Lab

11. 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?
Josh

12. Direct Support Filling gaps in community resources
Bridging
Connecting refugees to services
Direct Support Filling gaps in community resources
Capacity-Building Helping communities rise to the challenge

13. Empowering Families to Support Families Community Baby Shower
Lift Me Up Gift Boxes
Resource
Guide

14. 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

15. Welcoming Communities and Wellness: A Conversation
Susan will moderate a discussion with the panelists using these questions:
Jenny: You’ve created a number of tools focused more traditionally on mental health. Why were you excited about writing this toolkit?
Josh: You come from a more traditional mental health background, why do you think a community-wide approach makes sense? What does it offer?
Xouhoa: It strikes me that community-based efforts like yours are popping up all over the country, but they have a hard time getting the resources they need to sustain themselves or grow to scale. How have you managed to expand the influence of Community Impact Lab?
Jenny: You profiled a number of different sectors in the toolkit. Which one are you most excited about? Which holds the most promise but might be under-utilized now?
Xouhoa: I’m impressed by how refugees themselves are involved in your project. What were the keys to your success in engaging them?
Josh: We know higher education is often an underutilized resource in communities when it comes to refugee wellness. Can you share some tips with our audience on engaging higher education in this work?
Xouhoa: Who are your other community partners and how have they strengthened your effort?
Josh: How do you see broad, community-wide approaches to mental health and wellness helping to break through cultural taboos around mental health?
Jenny: Where would you like to see communities go from here when it comes to promoting refugee and community wellness?
Xouhoa Bowen
Susan Downs-Karkos,
Moderator
Josh Hinson
Jennifer Lange

16. QUESTIONS?

17. Welcoming Interactive 2018
June 18-20, 2018 Louisville, Kentucky Welcominginteractive.org

18. Keep in Touch
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