Access to mental health services is challenging for Afghan newcomers, who often encounter linguistic, cultural, and logistical barriers when trying to seek help. In most locations where Afghans resettle in the U.S., there are few if any mental health providers that speak their language and understand their culture.
IRC in Sacramento’s team used the Pathways to Wellness Community Adjustment Support curriculum as a foundation to develop an Afghan-specific adjustment support program. The team, which was 60% Afghan, used an iterative process, reviewing the existing curriculum, contextualizing the content for the Afghan community, and continuously seeking participant feedback. This allowed them to adapt the materials to be culturally responsive and linguistically accessible. By testing the curriculum with multiple cohorts and incorporating lessons learned, the final toolkit reflects the unique needs and preferences of the Afghan newcomer population. The final lessons and supporting materials were gathered to produce the Behtara Zhwand Afghan Adjustment Support Toolkit.
