Current projects
Supporting Refugee and Immigrant Youth's Mental Health: Examining Effectiveness and Implementation of a School-Based Intervention
In partnership with Center for Childhood Resilience (CCR) at Lurie Children’s Hospital, and Chicago Public Schools (CPS), we piloted a school-based intervention for refugee/immigrant newcomer students in Chicago during the 2019-2020 school year. We examined the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of the Supporting Transition Resilience Of Newcomer Groups (STRONG; Hoover, 2018) program. STRONG was developed to reduce the potential for mental health disparities among newcomer refugee and immigrant students by (1) promoting positive adjustment during resettlement through a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach and (2) improving access to mental health supports through school-based programming.
In 2021, we received funding from NIMH (R15MH128722) to continue to evaluate STRONG in Chicago Public Schools over the subsequent 3 years. This research enhances understanding of effectiveness of an intervention optimized for refugee and immigrant youth and delivered in schools to promote access. Ultimately, building the evidence-base for and expanding implementation of the intervention has the potential to support the mental health of many more refugee and immigrant children across the United States. This work will continue under the direction of Dr. Sungha Kang.
In partnership with Center for Childhood Resilience (CCR) at Lurie Children’s Hospital, and Chicago Public Schools (CPS), we piloted a school-based intervention for refugee/immigrant newcomer students in Chicago during the 2019-2020 school year. We examined the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of the Supporting Transition Resilience Of Newcomer Groups (STRONG; Hoover, 2018) program. STRONG was developed to reduce the potential for mental health disparities among newcomer refugee and immigrant students by (1) promoting positive adjustment during resettlement through a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach and (2) improving access to mental health supports through school-based programming.
In 2021, we received funding from NIMH (R15MH128722) to continue to evaluate STRONG in Chicago Public Schools over the subsequent 3 years. This research enhances understanding of effectiveness of an intervention optimized for refugee and immigrant youth and delivered in schools to promote access. Ultimately, building the evidence-base for and expanding implementation of the intervention has the potential to support the mental health of many more refugee and immigrant children across the United States. This work will continue under the direction of Dr. Sungha Kang.
PAST PROJECTS
Resiliency Education to Advance Community Healing (REACH)
Protective Processes among Immigrant Families: The Impact of Family Coping on Mexican-Origin Children Bounce Back Replication Study Daily Stress and Coping among Middle School Students |
Using Mixed Methods to Evaluate the Implementation of Teacher-Child Interaction Training-Universal in Public Schools
Bounce Back Implementation in Chicago Public Schools You Are Not Alone Evaluation A Family Treatment Component: Examining Effects Over Time
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