Project Summary
The Family Strengthening Intervention for Refugees (FSI-R) was developed and tested culturally and linguistically tailored in partnership with immigrant and refugee communities. Based on previous research in Rwanda on the FSI for HIV affected populations, the FSI-R was developed using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, initially co-created with Somali Bantu and Lhotshampa Bhutanese refugee communities in Chelsea and Springfield, MA, and in Lewiston, ME, with funding from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) (R24MD008057-03S1).
Following a planning grant from NIMH using community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches to co-develop and pilot the intervention, we conducted a Hybrid Type II effectiveness trial of the standard FSI-R from 2019-2022 with a second grant from the NIMHD (R01MD010613-06). The FSI-R uses a whole-family prevention intervention approach and is supported by multiple organizations including the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. The FSI-R has been adapted for Afghan, Somali Bantu, and Lhotshampa Bhutanese refugee communities in the United States.聽
The FSI-R is designed to be delivered by non-specialists who are from the community they are serving in a home-visiting 10-12 module approach. In addition, our research has developed a digital application聽 intended to help increase fidelity to evidence-based intervention by providing an easy-to-use format that is more user-friendly than a paper manual. The digital tool has been co-developed and co-created by refugee populations, UI/UX researchers, and computer science students.
The FSI-R is currently being administered for Afghan populations in the United States. We have conducted a pilot study of our Afghan FSI-R in Maine and we are now working with partners in Michigan to further the impact of the FSI-R for vulnerable Afghan families across the state. The RPCA works with national and global partners to license our interventions with rigor to ensure the adaptability of our research in multiple contexts.
Approach
Delivering culturally adapted parenting programs and family support services in collaboration with community organizations.
Key Findings
- Findings from previously published FSI-R research with Somali Bantu and Bhutanese populations demonstrate 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 care as usual (CAU) families.
- Bhutanese FSI-R children reported reduced family arguing聽 and showed fewer depression symptoms and conduct problems by parent report compared with CAU.
- The FSI-R has promise for promoting family functioning and mental health in refugee children and families.