Exploring Effective Strategies for Supporting Newly Resettled Refugee Adolescents in a Community-Based Program

• In Event: Sunday Roundtable 9:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Facilitators of Positive Youth Development (Table 3)

Abstract

The purpose of this proposed presentation is to examine an adolescent refugee support program, Teen Response, and identify effective strategies used to support newly resettled refugee-background high school students’ educational and career pathways. Employing a mixed-method approach utilizing surveys and focus groups, we studied nineteen student participants over nine months in a mid-size midwestern urban community in the U.S. Three themes emerged from the data 1) creating a safe and supportive learning environment, 2) fostering language competency, and 3) building cultural knowledge and skills in career pathways. This proposed presentation contributes to the knowledge of the design of effective adolescent programs and their impact on refugee-background adolescent development.

Authors

• Grace H.C. Huang, Cleveland State University

• Monica Miller Marsh, Kent State University