Studies
This library hosts materials developed by Switchboard and by former Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-funded technical assistance (TA) providers (most in fiscal years 2016-2018, with selected earlier materials). This library links materials externally where: their formats were incompatible with internal hosting; they were developed by current ORR-funded TA providers; or they were developed by non-ORR funded authors who granted permission for the links.
Author Definitions
Free Full TextPsychosocial Interventions for Children and Adolescents After Man-Made and Natural Disasters: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review
Publication Year: 2017
Outcome(s): PTSD Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services
Relevant ORR Program(s): Children's Services, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee School Impact Program, Unaccompanied Children's Services, Unaccompanied Refugee Minors
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Strong
Type of Study: Meta-analysis
This meta-analytic review investigates specific psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents after man-made and natural disasters. In a systematic literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO, as well as hand-searching existing reviews and contacting professional associations, 36 studies were identified. Random- and mixed-effects models were applied to test for average effect sizes and moderating variables. …
Free Full TextImagery Rescripting as Treatment for Complicated PTSD in Refugees: A Multiple Baseline Case Series Study
Publication Year: 2013
Outcome(s): Depression Reduction, PTSD Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services
Relevant ORR Program(s): Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Suggestive
Type of Study: Suggestive evidence
This study tested the effectiveness of Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) for complicated war-related PTSD in refugees. Ten adult patients in long-term supportive care with a primary diagnosis of war-related PTSD and Posttraumatic Symptom Scale (PSS) score>20 participated. A concurrent multiple baseline design was used with baseline varying from 6 to 10 weeks, with weekly supportive sessions. …
Free Full TextEvaluating a Multiple-Family Group Access Intervention for Refugees with PTSD
Publication Year: 2008
Outcome(s): General Distress Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services, Peer Support Groups
Relevant ORR Program(s): Children's Services, Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Moderate
Type of Study: Impact evaluation
The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a multiple-family group in increasing access to mental health services for refugees with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study investigated a nine-session multiple-family group called Coffee and Families Education and Support with refugee families from Bosnia-Herzegovina in Chicago. Adults with PTSD and their families …
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Paid Full TextThe TAFES Multi-Family Group Intervention for Kosovar Refugees: A Feasibility Study
Publication Year: 2003
Outcome(s): General Distress Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services, Peer Support Groups
Relevant ORR Program(s): Children's Services, Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Suggestive
Type of Study: Suggestive evidence
The object of this study was to describe a feasibility study of the Tea and Families Education and Support (TAFES) intervention used in a group of newly resettled adult refugees from Kosova. The subjects were 86 newly resettled Kosovar refugees in Chicago who gave informed consent to participate in an investigation of the TAFES intervention. …
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Free Full TextCulture-Sensitive and Resource Oriented Peer (CROP)-Groups as a Community Based Intervention for Trauma Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study with Refugees and Asylum Seekers from Chechnya
Publication Year: 2011
Outcome(s): General Distress Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services, Peer Support Groups
Relevant ORR Program(s): Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Moderate
Type of Study: Impact evaluation
Asylum seekers and refugees frequently suffer from post-traumatic stress and culturally sensitive methods towards reducing symptoms should be taken into account. The aim of the work reported was to examine the effectiveness of Culture-Sensitive and Resource Oriented Peer (CROP) Groups for Chechen asylum seekers and refugees towards reducing post-traumatic symptoms, anxiety, and depression. Some 94 …
Paid Full TextA Peer Support and Peer Mentoring Approach to Enhancing Resilience and Empowerment Among Refugees Settled in Southern Spain
Publication Year: 2020
Outcome(s): General Distress Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services, Peer Support Groups
Relevant ORR Program(s): Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Suggestive
Type of Study: Suggestive evidence
This study aims to analyze the processes of resilience and empowerment experienced by refugees in southern Spain during their participation in a community-based intervention. Intervention design covered two phases over 15 weeks: (a) accompanying a group of 10 settled refugees to become mentors, making use of a peer-support group format; and (b) holding four cultural …
Paid Full TextPromoting Posttraumatic Growth Among the Refugee Population in Spain: A Community-Based Pilot Intervention
Publication Year: 2019
Outcome(s): General Distress Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services, Peer Support Groups
Relevant ORR Program(s): Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Suggestive
Type of Study: Suggestive evidence
Various international organisations have identified the development of programmes that mitigate the negative impact that forced displacement has on refugees’ mental health as a priority intervention area. From this perspective, this study seeks to lend empirical support to a community-based pilot intervention aimed at promoting posttraumatic growth (PTG) among refugee adults arrived to Seville, the …
Free Full TextPeer Support Groups: Evaluating a Culturally Grounded, Strengths-Based Approach for Work with Refugees
Publication Year: 2018
Outcome(s): General Distress Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services, Peer Support Groups
Relevant ORR Program(s): Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Suggestive
Type of Study: Suggestive evidence
Many refugees will face unique socio-emotional stressors before, during, and after resettling in their new home country. The program presented herein focuses on the use of para-professionals and peer educators, from within refugee communities to build upon the Center for Torture and Trauma Survivors Clubhouse model. Group leaders seek to provide supports that will: 1) …
Free Full TextTelehealth Interventions Delivering Home-Based Support Group Videoconferencing: Systematic Review
Publication Year: 2018
Outcome(s): General Distress Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services, Peer Support Groups
Relevant ORR Program(s): Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Strong
Type of Study: Systematic review
Group therapy and education and support sessions are used within health care across a range of disciplines such as chronic disease self-management and psychotherapy interventions. However, there are barriers that constrain group attendance, such as mobility, time, and distance. Using videoconferencing may overcome known barriers and improve the accessibility of group-based interventions. The aim of …
Free Full TextInterventions to Improve Cultural Competency in Healthcare: A Systematic Review of Reviews
Publication Year: 2014
Outcome(s): Cultural Competence
Intervention(s): Cultural Competence Training
Relevant ORR Program(s): Children's Services, Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Medical Screening, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion
Direction of Evidence: Inconclusive or mixed impact
Strength of Evidence: Strong
Type of Study: Systematic review
Cultural competency is a recognized and popular approach to improving the provision of health care to racial/ethnic minority groups in the community with the aim of reducing racial/ethnic health disparities. The aim of this systematic review of reviews is to gather and synthesize existing reviews of studies in the field to form a comprehensive understanding …
