Engaging Immigrant Families Kate Reen, MSW Assistant Director, Youth Initiatives Northern Virginia Family Services 571-748-2808, kreen@nvfs.org
Agenda: Introductions Barriers to engagement Current environment influences Practices to increase engagement Puzzle piece Closing thoughts www.nvfs.org
Northern Virginia Family Service NVFS Program Areas Healthy Families Multi-cultural Center Immigration Legal Services Housing Assistance Health Access Workforce Development Therapeutic Foster and Respite Care Early Childhood Youth Initiatives See www.nvfs.org for more details Youth Initiatives Programs: The IPE Gang Prevention Program VPIP – Violence Prevention and Intervention Program The Family Reunification Program School Specific Groups for Recently Immigrated Youth www.nvfs.org
NVFS and Immigrant Families 61% of NVFS clients born outside the US 95% of Youth Initiatives clients born outside the US 81% of NVFS clients whose primary language is not English Regarding Country of Birth out of the 19,853 clients served on FY18 only 14,756 reported their Country of Birth (74%). 61% of NVFS clients born outside the US Regarding Country of Birth out of the 2,075 clients served on FY18 only 1,354 reported their Country of Birth (65%). 95% of Youth Initiatives clients born outside the US Regarding Language out of the 19,853 clients served on FY18 only 14,455 reported their Language (73%). 81% of NVFS clients whose primary language is not English. www.nvfs.org
Barriers to Engagement Cultural Beliefs and Values Trust Necessity www.nvfs.org
Barriers to Engagement: Trauma & Immigration The potential for Extensive Unmet Mental Health needs Pre-journey exposures / trauma histories common: Domestic Violence Victims of Physical, Sexual, and Emotional Child Abuse Experience of systemic/epidemic violence: war, on-going community violence, sanctioned political violence, oppression, and/or corruption Exposure to Violence, Fear, and Helplessness on the Journey Traumatic Experiences Resulting from Gang Involvement Triple Trauma Paradigm Traumatic experiences are often compounded by multiple losses www.nvfs.org
Barriers to Engagement Competing priorities Limited education and cultural navigation Communication Power dynamics www.nvfs.org
Current Environment Immigration Legal Considerations Need for role definition and education Misinformation, Speculation, Exploitation, and Fear www.nvfs.org
Program Practices: Service Model Accessibility Cultural practice recognition www.nvfs.org
Program Practices: Staffing Language Cultural understanding & Staff representation Professional development www.nvfs.org
Program Practices Collaborate with existing community supports Systems Education & Advocacy www.nvfs.org
Individual Practices The value of flexibility Consider word choice Self Awareness www.nvfs.org
Individual Practices: Trauma Informed Trauma-informed strategies benefit all clients, though they are especially necessary to support clients who have experienced trauma. Know your role A Sense of Safety Information Hope and Optimism A Sense of Connection / Supportive Relationships www.nvfs.org
Individual Practices Explore resistance The value of time Psychoeducation US Norms – systems, laws, cultural expectations Know Your Rights Individualized self-sufficiency www.nvfs.org
Puzzle Piece www.nvfs.org
Closing Thoughts What practices can you apply immediately? What do you have more questions about? Other comments or questions? www.nvfs.org