Switchboard provides tools, learning opportunities, research, and technical assistance covering a range of topics related to the newcomer experience.
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This trauma-informed blog post provides practical strategies for service providers supporting forcibly displaced clients through program disruptions, emphasizing safety, transparency, collaboration, and respect for clients’ varied backgrounds and experiences. It outlines specific approaches for managing transitions—from preparing clients in advance to ensuring continuity of care—while acknowledging the emotional toll on both clients and staff. This…
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This template provides a professional and customizable format for service providers referring clients to external organizations or programs. It emphasizes the importance of securing client consent and a signed Release of Information (ROI) form before proceeding. The letter includes sections to personalize details about the client’s situation, the nature of services being requested, and contact…
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Hosted on Mat 15th, 2025 the training was delivered by Rob Callus, Training Officer for Community Integration, Switchboard and Teddy Spelman, Program Officer of Tutoring & Instruction, IRC. Refugee and newcomer students are more likely to be bullied and may not understand how to effectively manage these situations, which could lead to further feelings of…
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Hosted on May 14, 2025 the training was delivered by Caroline Dilts, LICSW; Rochelle Frounfelker, ScD; and, Farhad Sharifi, MSW. Conducting research with newcomer populations presents unique challenges for both researchers and service providers—particularly when addressing the risk of harm such as suicide, intimate partner violence (IPV), and mental health crises, especially during stressful events…
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The Going to Mira Loma High School Virtual Reality 360 experience immerses learners in, and orients them to, a typical U.S. high school experience. Presented in English, Pashto, and Dari! Benefits of using VR with newcomers and instructions included!
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The Using Ride-Share Services 360 VR experience immerses learners in how to use ride-share services to access vital community resources, such as a clinic visit. Benefits of using VR with newcomers and instructions included!
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The Exploring Secondary Education Pathways 360 VR experience immerses users in a walkthrough of a University and a technical program for the construction industry. Benefits of using VR with newcomers and instructions included!
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Addressing bullying is a critical component of ensuring a child’s safety and well-being. It is essential to have ongoing discussions with both the child and their caregiver to reinforce awareness, encourage open communication, and provide guidance on how to handle such situations effectively. Below is a structured script designed to facilitate these conversations, helping caseworkers…
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Newcomers face unique risks and vulnerabilities due to their experiences of forced displacement, exposure to potentially traumatic experiences, and the complex stressors of resettlement. Safety planning can be a necessary or helpful intervention to maintain newcomers’ overall safety and wellness. This short guide provides an overview of safety plans and the safety planning process to…
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Service providers play a critical role in identifying, assessing, and managing the risk of suicide. This guide informs service providers about the fundamentals of utilizing safety plans with newcomers experiencing suicidal thinking or risk. This guide accompanies Switchboard’s editable Suicidal Ideation Safety Plan Template, which can be used when working with clients expressing thoughts about…
