Boston College School of Social Work Salem Professor in Global Practice Theresa S. Betancourt discussed the work of the Research Program on Children and Adversity, which she directs, at the launch of Trinity College Dublin's Centre for Forced Migration Studies on September 25.
Betancourt, an internationally recognized researcher in armed conflict's effects on children, families, and refugees, spoke on the subject of āfamily-based mental health promotion in refugee children: the promise of community-based participatory intervention, development and evaluation.ā
She discussed her programās established work with Somali Bantu and Bhutanese refugees in Massachusetts and Maine, as well as with more recent refugees who arrived in the U.S. from Afghanistan.
University of San Diego Assistant Professor Tala Al-Rousan, Trinity College Dublin Vice-President for Global Engagement Emma Stokes, Theresa S. Betancourt, University of KwaZulu-Natal Professor Ganzamungu Zihindula, U.C. San Diego Professor and Dean Cheryl Anderson and Trinity College Centre for Forced Migration Studies Director Rachel Hoare at the launch of the Centre for Forced Migration Studies. (Photo: Paul Sharp)
Betancourt and her teams of researchers observe to understand what processes in the support of children and families can be modified to lead to positive life outcomes. They gather evidence about the mechanisms at work that can be leveraged to lead to greater resiliency, and reduce negative life outcomes. It is an approach that looks at strengths and capacities that can help promote mental health among children who have experienced trauma from violence, loss, and resettlement.
Often there is a disconnect, or āgapā, between what researchers have learned about successful interventions and the services offered by a range of government and non-governmental offices in support of refugee children, Betancourt said.
āThe idea is to close the gap between what we know about the science of early adversity and trauma and its effects on mental health and childhood development and what we actually do on the ground, which to this day continues to be quite poor, often not evidence-based, and certainly not reaching those who deserve these types of services,ā Betancourt told the audience.
She noted that the world is in the midst of the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II, with 82.5 million people forcibly displaced, 48 million people displaced within their home countries, and 26.4 million refugees. One in every six children lived in a conflict zone as of 2020.
āCommunity-based participatory research is a powerful tool for working with resettling families to overcome stigma and arrive at interventions that promote dignity and hope and also promote good science and understanding,ā Betancourt said. āWhen we tal about refugee children and refugee populations and mental health as public health professionals, we have to be on the full spectrum from treatment to prevention and there is real promise in family-based prevention for promoting child mental health.ā Ā
Trinity Collegeās new center seeks to foster inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary research, develop teaching and training for individuals and organizations supporting refugees, and establish volunteer networks to help individuals who have been forced to migrate.
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Ed Hayward | University Communications | October 2022