This study investigated the utility of using an omnibus measure of child functioning, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), to screen for symptoms of PTSD. Although measures to assess trauma symptoms exist, they are often not linguistically and culturally valid for many school-age populations. Data from parents of Syrian refugee youth (ages 10-18…

The purpose of this study was to use a comprehensive review and analysis of the literature to help fill the research gap regarding school-based services for Salvadorian immigrant youth in the United States. Using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, journal articles were critically analyzed for the five elements of the ecological…

Throughout the migratory process, unaccompanied minors from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras--countries known as the Northern Triangle of Central America--are at great risk for exposure to adverse experiences, loss, and stressors that can have negative consequences on their mental health and well-being. Although the limited research with…

Few studies engage refugee newcomers in the design phase of a research project even when studying issues that are of significance to them. This preliminary study aimed to engage Arabic speaking refugee newcomers living with trauma and their service providers in designing a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to the study of…

African American youth and African refugee youth encounter systemic racism in similar yet different ways. Because of the inherent traumatic experiences encountered by refugee youth, the added discrimination during their acculturation processes elevates their trauma and stressor-related symptoms. This paper uses the Posttraumatic Growth Model to…

Given the tragedy of war and genocide, words often cannot adequately capture the complexity of war-related experiences. Researchers are increasingly utilizing the arts to enable multiple forms of expression, as well as for its therapeutic and empowering qualities. This paper outlines the use of the "river of life," an arts-based…

The education of First Nations children and young people is very important and is associated with their wellbeing. There are current policies and programs that address First Nations children's and young people's mental wellbeing and school attendance. But there has been a decline in school attendance and an increase in mental illness, including…

This teaching case study takes place in an American middle school and tells the story of Dorah, a refugee student from the Republic of Congo who experienced severe trauma. At Lincoln Middle School, the principal and her teachers encounter difficulties serving their refugee students adequately because of their lack of cultural proficiency. This…

The social service sector in New Zealand is undergoing significant change with the Minister responsible for introducing a new Ministry for Vulnerable Children (now Ministry for Children) signalling a commitment to practice being child-centred and trauma-informed in the new era. There is no shared understanding of these terms or what they will mean…

Talking Circles are safe spaces where relationships are built, nurtured, reinforced, and sometimes healed; where norms and values are established; and where people connect intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally with other members of the Circle. The Circle can also be an evaluation method that increases voice, decreases invisibility, and does…

This research was designed to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of a social and emotional learning (SEL) mindfulness-based school program (MindUp) for children in post-conflict Northern Uganda. In study one, we culturally adapted and implemented MindUp with 5th and 6th graders. Over a two-year period, significant decreases in children's…

Although the number of Syrians affected by the civil war rises, little work has been done to address the needs of Syrian refugee children with autism spectrum disorder. This research aimed to test the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally sensitive intervention developed specifically for children with autism spectrum disorder affected by…

In response to provincial and national calls for whole school approaches, and in the hope to support new teacher competencies aimed at promoting mental health, this paper considers the changing dynamics within the current classroom through elements and implications of a participatory study conducted in an Alberta urban elementary school. Specifics…

Globalization and shifting demographics have led to a call for an immediate change in education-based counseling. Future school counselors must be equipped with 21st century skills that are applicable across cultural boundaries and applied in a global context. "Addressing Multicultural Needs in School Guidance and Counseling" is a…