Paper details
| Paper authors | Daniel Beers |
| In panel on | Refugee Social Integration: Resettlement, Protection & Europe |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
In-Person / |
Abstract
Peer support groups are a well-established method of assistance for survivors of trauma. In recent years, peer-based programs have grown in popularity among refugee advocates and humanitarian organizations as a way to foster psycho-social health and resilience among refugees navigating the difficult process of third country resettlement. Existing studies suggest that peer support programs for refugees are effective at enhancing social connections, knowledge of community resources, improvements in mental health, and acculturation, among other benefits. However, there is little research about peer support programs for refugee youth—an important subpopulation that faces distinct challenges, and is uniquely positioned to reap the benefits of targeted mentorship and peer support opportunities. This paper offers a descriptive case analysis of the Peer Leaders Program at Harrisonburg High School, a co-curricular school-based peer support program for first generation refugee youth in the Central Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. Based on six months of participant observation, semi-structured field interviews and secondary data collection, I assess the program’s strengths—notably, its flexible and efficient design which fosters multimodal mentorship opportunities and connections to a variety of wrap-around services—as well as its key vulnerabilities and limitations. The paper concludes with directions for future research.
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