Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Unaccompanied Afghan Minors (UAMs): Key Research Findings

WHAT WILL THE WEBINAR COVER? 
Newcomer youth, particularly unaccompanied youth (i.e., arriving without a biological parent or legal guardian), typically experience trauma with long-term mental health impacts throughout their migration journeys. There are multi-system factors and players involved in the resettlement of unaccompanied Afghan minors (UAMs), specifically those that arrived from Afghanistan to the U.S. following the takeover by the Taliban. While mental health can be a new and/or taboo topic for many communities, it is important for caregivers and providers to raise the issue with clients, especially UAMs. Understanding the unique needs of UAMs is essential for caregivers and providers to identify and address mental health challenges with cultural sensitivity and equity. 

This webinar—presented by the Boston College Research Program on Children and Adversity, in partnership with Switchboard—will dive deeper into addressing the needs of unaccompanied Afghan youth by highlighting the results of a recent project: “Understanding Needs and Strengths that Affect Mental Health Among Unaccompanied Afghan Minors (UAM) in Resettlement”. The webinar is designed to accompany the evidence-based summary: What Strategies Support The Mental Health Of Unaccompanied Refugee Minors?

IS THIS WEBINAR FOR ME? 
This webinar is aimed at stakeholders interested in the health and wellbeing of newly arrived UAMs, including but not limited to direct service providers, school staff, researchers, agency leaders, and policymakers who work with newcomers, particularly those who work alongside unaccompanied youth.

WHY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE?
After participating in this 75-minute session, you will be able to:     

Explain the importance of equitable mental health services for UAMs.  

Identify the unique challenges and protective factors of UAMs, and how they differ from the general unaccompanied refugee minor (URM) population. 

Name culturally informed strategies that address the needs of UAMs at the caregiver, provider, and research levels. 

Describe the implications of research findings on UAMs for policymakers and practitioners.