Give an Hour Provides ‘Help the Helper’ Series, Self-Care Resources
BETHESDA, Md. – (July 1, 2022) – Give an Hour® utilizes its expertise to provide cultural competency and self-care training, along with peer support programs and other mental health and wellness resources to people assisting with Afghan resettlement efforts. The preliminary phase of this work is possible through funding from Maxar Better World Foundation and the Welcome Fund, a project of Welcome.US.
These grants afford Give an Hour the opportunity to learn more about the specific mental health needs of the volunteers supporting Afghan refugees, which allows for the creation of culturally appropriate programming and tools.
“We are honored to support the mental health and emotional wellness needs of those integral to the resettlement of Afghan refugees in the U.S.,” said Dr. Trina Clayeux, CEO of Give an Hour. “Our extensive history with the military and veteran community uniquely positions us to leverage our focus on mental health and well-being to serve this very specific population of people dedicated to this cause.”
Give an Hour will concentrate its efforts on the following:
- Offer culturally responsive training for 300 licensed mental health professionals that emphasizes Afghan history and customs
- 300 mental health providers will receive training in trauma recovery and resiliency, as well as clinical considerations, as it relates to Afghan refugees, soldiers and civilians
- Deliver Emotional Life Skills courses for 40 #AfghanEvac coalition volunteers, which includes learning to build a community of support based on mental health and emotional wellness, and offer individual counseling sessions to participants
- Provide Resiliency Duty Officer training to educate key volunteers on how to help themselves (and others) navigate the challenges of their roles
- Create a library of culturally responsive psychoeducational tools, including a self-care assessment checklist and relevant informational resources
The #AfghanEvac coalition invited Give an Hour to evaluate the mental health needs of coalition members and develop relevant and appropriate training and resources. The coalition is a group of private, nonprofit, government and all-volunteer organizations focused on helping at-risk Afghans evacuate and resettle safely to the U.S.
About Give an Hour
Founded in 2005, Give an Hour® is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming mental health by building strong and healthy individuals and communities. We provide no-cost counseling through a network of volunteer mental health professionals and empower community through collaborative programs, peer support and educational opportunities that benefit both clients and providers. Our efforts focus on military members, veterans and their loved ones; opioid addiction prevention; and those affected by mass gun violence and interpersonal violence. For more information, visit: giveanhour.org.
