Refugee Mental Health Initiatives (RMHI)

Jan 31

Refugee Mental Health Initiatives (RMHI) are funded by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Office of Refugee Health (ORH), administered by Public Health Institute’s Sehat Initiative and Cypress Resilience Project, and implemented by community-based organizations statewide to address the disproportionate mental health challenges faced by refugee populations upon their arrival in the United States. These projects focus on providing culturally relevant, linguistically appropriate holistic care to support the mental health and well-being of refugees. The grantees we work with throughout California include refugee resettlement organizations and other community-based organizations that specialize in supporting refugees.

This program responds to the mental health needs of ORR–eligible Afghan refugees through the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate, non-clinical emotional and mental health support, peer counseling, resource navigation, and clinical referrals.
Abbreviated Name: RAMHI
Project period: 11/28/2022 — 9/30/2025
Geographic locations: California, esp. Sacramento, LA, Orange, Stanislaus, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Diego counties
Number of people to be served: 2,282
Population: ORR-eligible Afghan refugees
Activities: screening with RHS-15, wellness groups, health education classes, peer support services, referrals to mental health counseling, community outreach
Partner organizations: nine community-based organizations: Access California, Afghan Coalition, International Institute of Los Angeles, IRC Oakland, IRC Sacramento, IRC Turlock, MAS-SSF, Pars Equality Center, Survivors of Torture International
This program provides culturally and linguistically appropriate virtual and/or in-person clinical counseling and referrals to long-term clinical services for ORR–eligible Afghan refugees throughout California.
Abbreviated Name: RAMHI Telehealth
Project period: 11/1/2023 — 9/30/2025
Geographic location: California
Number of people to be served: 250
Population: ORR-eligible Afghan refugees
Activities: individual counseling, referrals to long-term counseling, community outreach
This program responds to the mental health needs of ORR-eligible refugees through culturally and linguistically appropriate non-clinical emotional and mental health support, peer counseling, resource navigation, and clinical referrals.
Abbreviated Name: RHPP—RMHI
Project period: 11/15/2023 — 9/30/2024
Geographic location: California
Number of people to be served: 615
Population: ORR-eligible refugees
Activities: screening with RHS-15, wellness groups, health education classes, peer support services, referrals to mental health counseling, community outreach
This program responds to the mental health needs of ORR–eligible Ukrainian refugees through culturally and linguistically appropriate, clinical and non-clinical, emotional and mental health support counseling, resource navigation, and clinical referrals.
Abbreviated Name: UHP—RMHI
Project period: 12/1/2023 — 9/30/2025
Geographic location: California areas with high numbers of UHPs resettling
Number of people to be served: 480
Population: ORR-eligible Ukraine refugees
Activities: assist refugees with processing emotions and adjusting to current realities by mitigating stress, developing coping strategies, providing emotional support, and encouraging outreach to resources and longer-term supportive services