Purpose: There are disparities in mental health of refugee youth compared with the general U.S.
population. We conducted a pilot feasibility and acceptability trial of the home-visiting Family
Strengthening Intervention for refugees (FSI-R) using a community-based participatory research
approach. The FSI-R aims to promote youth mental health and family relationships. We hypothesized
that FSI-R families would have better psychosocial outcomes and family functioning postintervention
compared with care-as-usual (CAU) families. We hypothesized that FSI-R would be
feasible to implement and accepted by communities.
Methods: A total of 40 Somali Bantu (n ¼ 103 children, 58.40% female; n ¼ 43 caregivers, 79.00%
female) and 40 Bhutanese (n ¼ 49 children, 55.30% female; n ¼ 62 caregivers, 54.00% female)
families were randomized to receive FSI-R or CAU. Refugee research assistants conducted psychosocial
assessments pre- and post-intervention, and home visitors delivered the preventive
intervention. Multilevel modeling assessed the effects of FSI-R. Feasibility was measured from
retention, and acceptability was measured from satisfaction surveys.
Results: The retention rate of 82.50% indicates high feasibility, and high reports of satisfaction
(81.50%) indicate community acceptance. Across communities, FSI-R children reported reduced
traumatic stress reactions, and caregivers reported fewer child depression symptoms compared
with CAU families (b ¼ .42; p ¼ .03; b ¼ .34; p ¼ .001). Bhutanese FSI-R children reported
reduced family arguing (b ¼ 1.32; p ¼ .04) and showed fewer depression symptoms and conduct
problems by parent report (b ¼ 9.20; p ¼ .04; b ¼ .92; p ¼ .01) compared with CAU. There were
no significant differences by group on other measures.
Self-reported disability among recently resettled refugees in the United States: Results from the national annual survey of refugees
The prevalence rates and correlates of mental or physical disability among recently resettled refugees, who undergo strenuous journeys before arriving in the US, remain unknown,