CULTURALLY-SENSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE POPULATIONS NOVEMBER 15, 2018 // RESOURCE PACKET KC Chamber Board Room 30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO 64108 1st Floor Union Station ccirkc.com Supported by the REACH Healthcare Foundation In partnership with Vibrant Health 1
AGENDA: 8:30-8:45 am Breakfast and Networking 8:45 am Welcome by Kristina Marsh, Health Advisor 8:50 am Panelist Discussion Featuring: Samer Hussein, BA and Guadalupe Tredway 9:10 am Featured Speaker Samantha Allweiss 10:00 am Questions and Answers 10:30 am SnapShot KC! Pilot Program Overview JC Cowden, MD and Francisco Martinez, Children s Mercy 10:45 am Questions and Answers 10:55 am Closing Remarks Carla Gibson Reach Foundation FEATURED SPEAKER: Samantha Allweiss, A.M., LCSW Manager of Clinical Operations, RefugeeOne Samantha is a social worker and therapist in the Wellness Program at RefugeeOne, one of the largest refugee resettlement agencies in Chicago. With a depth of knowledge and experience in providing mental health to international populations, Samantha will present on how migration experiences impact one s mental health and share ways to better culturally engage with refugees and immigrants in practice. PANELISTS: Samer Hussein, BA Samer Hussein served as a case manager and clinical interpreter in RefugeeOne s Wellness Program for four years. Mr. Hussein is a refugee from Iraq who lived in Jordan for over a decade. He has extensive interpretation and clinical experience with trauma-exposed refugee populations. In Jordan, Mr. Hussein was a psychosocial counselor for the Center for Victims of Torture. Since coming to the US, he has provided interpreter and outreach services to a number of programs including Red Cross, Heartland Alliance, International Relief and Development and Iraqi Mutual Aid Society. In the Wellness Program, Mr. Hussein coordinated clinical appointments, provided medical case management, and assisted with disability applications. Guadalupe Tredway Wellness Coach Guadalupe was born in Mexico City where her passion for helping people started in 1990. She became a nurse in Mexico City and started working with the community at one of the public children s hospitals in the city with the preventive care department. At the same time, Guadalupe volunteered at a domestic violence shelter giving health related resources and presentations and support to the victims. In 2004, Guadalupe came to North Carolina, not knowing any English, she became an ESL student at the local Community Center, where she was struggling trying to interact with people and understand a completely different culture and system. As the years went on and after moving to Kansas City in 2007-, Guadalupe became the support and advocate of those who were most vulnerable and soon enough became a leader in her community. In 2014, Guadalupe started working with the Community Health Council as a Certified Application Counselor (CAC) helping the Latino community to enroll in the health insurance market place. She then moved to her position as a Community Health Worker with KC CARE Clinic and the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County. Currently Guadalupe is working at the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County serving patients with hypertension. Scan the QR Code with your mobile device to download this information and resource packet. 2
The Cultural Mergence Model: A Practice Model for Serving Trauma-Exposed New Immigrants 2017 Aimee Hilado. All Rights Reserved see Hilado (2017). Practice with Individuals on Resource slide 3 3
What is Mental Health? Mental health is a state of well-being. It is not about being insane or crazy. All of us have mental health just like physical health! WHY IS MENTAL HEALTH IMPORTANT? It helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected WHAT DOES GOOD MENTAL HEALTH LOOK LIKE? Being able to maintain and cultivate positive, healthy relationships with family, friends, and community members Being able to thrive in new environments, such as the workplace and in the community Being able to think clearly and make rational decisions The ability to experience a range of emotions without feeling entirely distressed WHEN SHOULD YOU SEEK MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT? IF YOU ARE: Feeling it is difficult to attend to your job, relationships, or other responsibilities because of your mood, worries, or stress. Unable to sleep at night due to intrusive dreams or many worries. Unable to concentrate for extended periods of time. Anxious, frightened or sad most days of the week. Need someone to talk to in a safe and private setting about your current needs. When you feel so hopeless you want to harm yourself You are not alone. Many refugees and immigrants can have extra stress and worry because of past experiences and change. If you re feeling this way too, it s OK to get help. 4
Mental Health Resources Sample list of organizations with resources to serve immigrants and refugees. KANSAS CITY, MO. JEWISH VOCATIONAL SERVICE 4600 The Paseo Kansas City, MO. 64110 816-471-2808 www.jvskc.org KANSAS CITY, KS. CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF NORTHEAST KANSAS 2220 Central Avenue Kansas City, KS. 66102 913-621-1504 catholiccharitiesks.org SAMUEL U. RODGERS HEALTH CENTER 825 Euclid Avenue Kansas City, MO. 64412 816-474-4920 www.rodgershealth.org VIBRANT HEALTH WYANDOTTE NEIGHBORHOOD CLINICS 21 North 12th St., Suite 300 Kansas City, KS. 66102 913-342-2552 vibrantwyandotte.org TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 300 W. 19th Terrace Kansas City, MO. 64108 816-404-5709 behavioralhealthkc.org THE FAMILY CONSERVANCY 444 Minnesota Ave. Kansas City, KS. 66101 816-742-4357 (English) 913-573-1110 (Español) www.thefamilyconservancy.org MATTIE RHODES CENTER 148 North Topping Ave. Kansas City, MO. 64123 816-241-3780 www.mattierhodes.org 5