From Policy to Practice: Navigating Change in Refugee and Immigrant Communities

For those working in social, medical, mental health, and legal services, understanding how immigration impacts our clients is imperative. Ten percent of Coloradans and 12% of Denver-metro residents are immigrants. Nearly 175,000 (25%) children in Denver and 276,000 (20%) children in Colorado have at least one parent who is an immigrant. 329,000 residents of Colorado are at risk of detention and deportation.

Working with refugees and immigrants in changing environments requires flexibility and adaptability from human service providers.This training will explore the impact of macro-level policy changes and micro-level clinical interventions.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of current policy shifts while exploring the psychosocial impacts of displacement on refugee and immigrant communities. Through hands-on world scenarios, attendees will practice navigating clinically sensitive conversations with cultural attunement and trauma stewardship.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Analyze the impact of recent federal and Colorado-specific policy changes on mental health access and psychosocial stability.
• Understand the compound impacts of trauma, displacement, and systemic oppression in resettlement.
• Gain a deeper understanding of trauma stewardship during shifting social climates.
• Synthesize knowledge through hands-on practice with complex client scenarios.
• Implement tools that allow a deeper sensitivity during nuanced sensitive clinical conversations.

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P R E S E N T E R

Osmara Medrano, LCSW, PsyD, is a bilingual clinician specializing in trauma-informed, culturally-responsive mental health care for immigrants, refugees, and individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). With a background in clinical social work and psychology, she seeks to promote healing and resilience in marginalized communities. Currently she serves as a therapist at Aurora Mental Health & Recovery, where she delivers individual and group therapy to refugees and immigrants from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Eligible for two hours Certificate of Completion