Facilitating Occupational Engagement Among Newly Resettled Refugees Through a Life Skills Curriculum

Abstract

Refugees resettle in the United States due to the threat of war, persecution, or other situations which require legal protection. Occupational deprivation occurs when one is unable to participate in desired occupations due to barriers to engagement. Refugees often experience occupational deprivation after resettlement due to a variety of barriers to occupational participation. Occupational engagement is essential for one’s health and well-being, and experiencing barriers to accessing occupation can therefore negatively impact one’s health and well-being. Occupational therapists facilitate participation in occupation, and thus have a role in addressing occupational deprivation among refugees. The purpose of this Doctoral Capstone Project was to partner with an Indianapolis nonprofit, Migros Aid, Inc., to create a guide for volunteer mentors to utilize for addressing life skills with refugees. Over the course of the Doctoral Capstone Experience, the capstone student created and disseminated the Life Skills Curriculum and associated materials. Volunteer mentors participated in a training presentation addressing how to access and use the Life Skills Curriculum, as well as trauma-informed approach principles and cultural humility principles in line with best practice recommendations for resettlement work. Quantitative outcome data indicated an increase in mentors’ knowledge and confidence in teaching life skills to refugees before (n=15) and after (n=9) the presentation. This project contributed to literature about occupational therapy’s role when working with resettled refugees at a population level and provided resources to facilitate increased occupational engagement among refugees in Indianapolis.