http://jaapl.org/content/jaapl/22/2/297.2.full.pdf

Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror

In combination with gender and culture, the authors argue that the migratory experience must be considered as a determinant of the health of immigrant women in its own right. Gender and other symbolic institutions are seen as intertwined in an ecological model of health. Bronfenbrenner's (1986) systems theory and a combination of theories of social cognition, social exchange and symbolic interaction articulated by Howard and Hollander (1997) expand the ecological model. Cognitive schemas of gender and culture help explain the process of integration in a new locality over time. Success in addressing the health of immigrant women will be limited if the impact of migration and at the meso- and macro-levels is ignored in favour of a focus on the individual.

An ecological model for understanding culture as a determinant of women's health

https://sites.ualberta.ca/~dcl3/public%20participation%20and%20hc%20dm/public%20participation%20+%20health%20policy%20-%20pubmed/public%20participation%20in%20regional%20health%20policy%20-%20a%20theoretical%20framework.pdf

Public participation in regional health policy: a theoretical framework

With large numbers of refugee arrivals and numerous barriers to accessing services it is especially important that resources are efficiently and effectively directed to address the health needs of refugees. Ten databases were utilised to conduct the review, returning 156 titles which were assessed for validity based on specified criteria. The 14 critically appraised articles included in this review consist of experimental research and discussions on best practice. Articles consistently demonstrated the benefit of community-based mental health service in improving mental health outcomes. Themes of cultural awareness, language, setting, and post-migration stressors emerged across the articles. In addition, the studies also point to the gaps in research of a longitudinal nature and ones that deal with scattered populations post migration. Community-based interventions proved valuable for improving the mental health of refugees. However, additional interventions and evaluations are required to draw consistent and conclusive judgments on best practice in dealing with refugee mental health issues.

/pdf/the-use-of-community-based-interventions-in-reducing-4n3kn0uea4.pdf

The Use of Community-Based Interventions in Reducing Morbidity from the Psychological Impact of Conflict-Related Trauma Among Refugee Populations: A Systematic Review of the Literature

The development of evidence-based mental health interventions for refugees is complicated by the cultural and linguistic diversity of the participants, and the need to balance treatment of past traumatic experiences with ongoing support during the process of acculturation. In an effort to gather "practice-based evidence" from existing mental health services for refugees, a collaborative study of International Family, Adult, and Child Enhancement Services (FACES), a comprehensive, community-based mental health program working with refugee children, was conducted to describe the program participants and service delivery model and to assess whether participants improved over time as a function of services. Results showed that participants improved, but that the improvement was not related to dosage of services. Implications of these findings for refugee mental health services are discussed and suggestions are made for future evaluation research of mental health services with refugees.

International Family, Adult, and Child Enhancement Services (FACES): A Community-Based Comprehensive Services Model for Refugee Children in Resettlement

An evaluability assessment (EA) framework was used to assess a survivors of torture program for which one of the authors had been coordinator. Staff and other stakeholders were interviewed and documents reviewed. Program logic models were developed and discussed. The results of the EA and the process are discussed in terms of the barriers to EA identified by Smith (2005). The article suggests that an EA can be done with limited resources and still be valuable in developing real knowledge of the program, ownership, management for success, and pathways to accountability.

/pdf/evaluability-assessment-of-a-survivors-of-torture-program-4uqbice239.pdf

Evaluability assessment of a survivors of torture program: lessons learned

There is an increased interest in best practices in the design and implementation of specialized programs for refugee survivors of torture. The processes taking place in the development of such a program also warrant assessment. In particular, this paper addresses the importance of community participation. Using the Host Support Program for Survivors of Torture as a case study, we identify the community participation practices that emerged during stages of program development and describe how these practices have made possible a collaborative service delivery model and facilitated community capacity building that addresses the complex needs of refugee survivors of torture. The process of community collaboration is discussed as central to the process of effective community participation and organizing. The illustrated benefits of community participation position this model as a best practice.

Identifying best practices of community participation in providing services to refugee survivors of torture: a case description.

Providing crisis services to refugee clients demands that practitioners develop knowledge and skills to address the trauma that accompanies migration. Beyond coping with the basic standards for living in a new country, survivors of torture must also deal with the legacy of their experiences from their homeland. Due to the complexity of issues surrounding the effects of torture, crisis interventions must be centered in a multidisciplinary community effort. Crisis events faced during the migration process are reviewed in this paper with special attention to the particular needs of survivors of torture. The effects of torture, including physiological, psychological, and social impacts are reviewed. Selected professional issues faced by professionals who work with refugee populations are discussed including, the assessment of torture impact on the family, developing a working alliance with culturally diverse refugees, countertransference issues in working with survivors of torture, and recommendations for mob...

Anila Ramaliu

Papers

Evaluability assessment of a survivors of torture program: lessons learned

Identifying best practices of community participation in providing services to refugee survivors of torture: a case description.

Crisis intervention with survivors of torture