Resettlement

Stressors that refugee children and families experience as they try to make a new life for themselves:

Financial stressors
Difficulties finding adequate housing
Difficulties finding employment
Loss of community support
Lack of access to resources
Transportation difficulties

Case Example

Rachel’s Experience of Resettlement Stress

Apart from the conflict between Rachel and her mother, the family was facing many other stressors. The family was facing eviction from their public housing unit because of Rachel’s behavior which made the family in danger of losing their Federal housing. The family was facing financial crisis because they had been here for many years and were about to lose their major source of income the mother’s social security since she has not been able to pass her citizenship test.. Furthermore, Rachel was no longer attending school because she had been placed in a class that was not suited to her academic level and she felt ‘stupid’ because she could not do the work. See full Case Example.

Provider Tips

You can help refugee families by increasing their knowledge of resources in your community.
Help families access resources that help with financial, legal, housing, and basic needs.
Provide access to transportation
Ensure families have access to appropriate medical, dental, and mental health care

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Resettlement Assessment Questions

Many refugee children and families cope well with their experiences of trauma and stress; others may experience stressors or symptoms that begin to interfere with their daily functioning. Here are some examples of ways in which you can ask families about resettlement related stressors.

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Resettlement Risk Assessment

Level of Risk
Low	Family is coping well with resettlement. They may experience occasional stressors related to: Financial Housing Community stressors However they are able to access appropriate resources and seek support from the community when needed.
Moderate	Family is experiencing one or more areas of resettlement stress such as: Trouble paying their bills Difficulty finding work Housing problems Community violence Transportation problems Difficulty accessing medical or mental health resources Limited community support These stressors are impacting family or child functioning and resulting in a distressed living environment
High	Family is experiencing high levels of resettlement stress that are interfering with family functioning and posing a safety risk for family members such as: Homelessness Eviction Lack of food Inability to access medical services These stressors are impacting family or child functioning and resulting in a threatening environment at home or in the community.

Based on above Resettlement Risk Assessment Table,
how do you rate Individual:

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