Announcement
Citizenship Preparation Classes, hosted by IRC NJ.
Photo: IRC NJ
The International Rescue Committee in New Jersey (IRC NJ) is pleased to share that we were recently awarded funding from the Center for Hispanic Policy, Research, and Development (CHPRD) to provide citizenship integration and mental health services to Hispanic refugees and immigrants who recently arrived to the U.S.
Citizenship Integration
The IRC NJ has run its Naturalization Application Program since 2014 for all populations and is excited to continue this vital work for the Hispanic community, thanks to CHPRD. Once a client’s application is approved, clients can join the IRC NJ’s Bridging the Gap program to receive citizenship preparation courses, practice English language skills for the oral and written exams, and receive mock interview support.
Mental Health
Past trauma, pressures to assimilate, grief, and loss of displacement can put Hispanic refugees and immigrants at a significant risk of mental health stressors.
The IRC NJ’s newest Mental Health and Wellness program ensures that Hispanic, Latinx, and Latin ethnic minorities have the support they need to prevent and/or mitigate mental health concerns so they can heal, adjust, and thrive in their new communities. This program, which started in July 2024 and ends in June 2025, will provide the following services:
- One-on-one counseling and Crisis Intervention
- Pathways to Wellness group modules cover topics such as successful adjustment, cultural shock, the refugee experience, mental health, the mind-body connection, embracing goals and dreams, and building communities of wellness.
- Family Resilience Groups
- Community Health Outreach Services to navigate health systems, including setting up appointments, insurance applications, and learning about their rights as patients.
Monica Indart, Psy.D, who is the IRC NJ’s Clinical supervisor, shares:
This CHPRD grant will allow us to deliver services that support the dignity of our clients. The focus on group- and family-based services reflects the collectivist cultural values of our clients. The focus on resilience-based interventions supports the natural strengths our clients demonstrate daily, builds upon their existing coping strategies, and upholds their cultural values. In the words of a client I recently worked with, “We want to help others make their way here, in the ways that others have helped us.” That, in summary, is the core of our program.
The IRC NJ is grateful to the Center for Hispanic Policy, Research, and Development for supporting IRC NJ’s Hispanic client's immigration and mental health needs. We look forward to sharing more about these programs!