HIAS Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Curriculum
The HIAS MHPSS curriculum offers a teaching curriculum to implement community-based support groups for refugees, newcomers and immigrants. This curriculum offers nine sessions with scripts, resources, and activities for skilled facilitators to promote healing, connection, and support.
The curriculum and accompanying materials are designed to support any organization or individual in implementing community-based support groups that support the emotional wellness of newcomers. HIAS envisions that this curriculum can be used by resettlement agencies, community organizations, clinical and non-clinical providers, and other communities that wish to promote the well-being of newcomers during and after COVID-19. This curriculum may be used either virtually or in-person, depending on the community.
Our hope is that this curriculum allows opportunities for connection during challenges such as COVID-19, resettlement, forced migration, and other adversities faced by refugees and newcomers. We believe that through normalizing reactions to adversity, highlighting resilience, and promoting social connections, communities can be engaged in their own healing and reconnection.
As you use these materials, HIAS is eager for your feedback, edits and additions. Please be in touch at mhpss@hias.org. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you.
Download Below: “HIAS’ Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Curriculum”
The curriculum contains 3 key components:
- An introduction and background to the mental health, psychosocial and emotional wellness needs of refugees, newcomers and immigrants within the United States.
- 9 curriculum sessions with discussions, activities, and content for a 9 week-long support group that discusses cultural adjustment, family and community resilience, perspectives on mental health, and other critical topics to provide connection and support to newcomers during and after COVID-19.
- 13 handouts, exercises, and activities that complement the curriculum sessions.
Download Below: “HIAS’ MHPSS Curriculum Implementation Guidelines”
The Curriculum Implementation Guidelines offer guidance and suggestions for organizations in the planning, implementation, and preparation of the curriculum. This document should be used alongside the HIAS Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Curriculum during planning stages. These guidelines are designed to aid organizations in implementing support groups. It includes guidance for organizations and providers on early planning steps, participant engagement and outreach, facilitator planning, creating learning systems and program sustainability, and the materials and tools needed to implement a support group.
Download Below: “HIAS’ MHPSS Training and Resource Annex”
This Training and Resource Annex should be used alongside the MHPSS Curriculum and Implementation Guidelines. It contains resources, information, and further reading on key topics related to support groups. This Training and Resource Annex should be used by individuals, providers, or supervisors during planning stages, to support the training of facilitators who will lead a support group. The aim of this Annex is to amplify the knowledge and skills of support group facilitators to be equipped to deliver a non-clinical support group.
It contains recommendations, best practices, tips, and resources that supervisors should review with facilitators during planning and training.
To download these documents, please fill out the form below.
