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

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.

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

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

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

Treatment Outcome Stats for Refugee Youth CountryGenderAgeCAFAS (1)CAFAS(2) SomaliaF AfghanistanF LiberiaF HaitiF Ethiopia*M LiberiaM MexicoM SomaliaF Totals41% Improvement in overall functioning *Trauma symptom Checklist used-showed significant change in overall symptoms.

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.

Close (Kathleen) Question and Answer

Kathleen Connors, Ph.D. –Georgia Coalition for Refugee Mental Health Monica McGannon – DeKalb County Community Services Board Jeff Atkinson, LPC – Co-founder/lead Therapist- Attachment and Bonding Center of Atlanta, LLC Thanks for listening!