Tuesday, May 21, 2024
5/21/2024
Abstract: Spurwink ShifaME Trauma Systems Therapy for Refugees uses Trauma Systems Therapy adapted for refugees (TST-R), an evidence-based practice, to provide culturally appropriate mental health services to refugee children, adolescents, and their families in six communities in Southern Maine who have or at at risk for mental health issues due to trauma. TST-R addresses a child's trauma system from a social ecological perspective, working within the unique ecology of each child and family, and building systems of prevention and community resilience building, targeted skill-building, and stress reduction interventions for at-risk youth, and intensive therapeutic intervention for refugee youth with significant psychological distress. The ShifaME model includes community engagement, school-based groups, and home-based family treatment interventions. All tiers are delivered by mental health clinicians in partnership with cultural brokers who are members of the refugee community they are serving and trained in TST-R, and who assist the clinical team and the community in creating cross-cultural understanding and change. The program will serve up to 250 individuals through community and parent outreach and 297 individuals in Year 1; 387 people in Year 2; 477 in Year 3; and 567 in Year 5; for a total and 2,175 over five years, with 514 in direct care, 678 in behavioral health homes, and 736 in school groups. Project goals include increasing access to effective trauma-focused treatment and services by refugee youth and families by providing TST-R treatment and decreasing barriers to mental health services; improving school functioning for refugee youth; and improving mental health and overall functioning for refugee youth with significant trauma-related mental health symptoms. ShifaME will maximize community impact by expanding its breadth of services, cultural competency, and sustainability, and establish the program as a regional hub for TST-R expertise by developing a train-the-trainer model and curriculum for TST-R training. ShifaME will increase awareness of the need for mental health services and acceptance of services by providing linguistically and culturally responsive care facilitated by cultural brokers, improving mental health and school functioning.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
