Presenters: Kathleen Connors, Ph.D. –Georgia Coalition for Refugee Mental Health

1. Lessons in Innovation for Refugee Women, Children and YouthWorld 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 DisordersSummary of OutcomeTreatment InterventionsCognitive-behavioral, humanistic, solution-focused Eye Movement Desensitization and ReprocessingOutreach to the school Hospital coordination Discharge Planning

5. Demographics for Refugee Youth • Country Gender Age Trauma • Somalia F 15 War • Afghanistan F 16 Domestic Violence • Liberia F 10 War • Haiti F 18 Domestic Violence • Ethiopia* M 13 Sexual molestation • Liberia M 15 War • Mexico M 13 Loss of mother (car accident) • Somalia F 17 War/Domestic Violence

6. Treatment Outcome Stats for Refugee Youth • Country Gender Age CAFAS (1) CAFAS(2) • Somalia F 15 80 80 • Afghanistan F 16 30 0 • Liberia F 10 50 30 • Haiti F 18 60 30 • Ethiopia* M 13 30 0 • Liberia M 15 70 70 • Mexico M 13 90 40 • Somalia F 17 50 20 Totals 41% 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 Healthknowingsoul@earthlink.netMonica McGannon – DeKalb County Community Services Boardmonicah@dekalbcsb.org 404-243-9500Jeff Atkinson, LPC – Co-founder/lead Therapist- Attachment and Bonding Center of Atlanta, LLCjeffatkinsonlpc@yahoo.com678-406-9707Thanks for listening!