Few university psychology programs prepare psychologists for providing mental health services related to immigration, conflict and disasters especially in international venues. Yet, if we look at past decades, the world has been increasingly witnessing violence, racism, discrimination, disasters and wars, in every corner of the globe. As a result, the role of psychologists has been changing and new generations of psychologists need to be prepared for what is needed.

This 18th free webinar of the Refugee Mental Health Resource Network will examine two university graduate psychology programs. One focused on training for students in the areas of working with refugees, immigrants, IDPs and other vulnerable populations in conflict and disaster zones. The other providing training for graduate students to develop legislative advocacy skills for supporting refugee children separated from their families when seeking refuge in the US.

Dr. Khoury will discuss the comparison of working with refugees in structured programs and settings to with working with displaced people due to a sudden disaster. She will discuss the Beirut, Lebanon blast and the primary roles students play in emergency relief efforts in a country known for its large refugee population.
Advocacy and experience working with legislators is also an area that is typically not taught in university psychology programs. Dr. Stiles will discuss teaching graduate students about the process of working with legislators and a project focused on educating members of the U.S. Congress on the psychological impact of separating children from their families. She will discuss a recent project in developing an informative report addressing psychological issues in response to a U.S. House Oversight Committee report and meeting with both Democratic and Republican members of Congress.

Dr. Carll will moderate and provide background and introduction for this thought provoking webinar. Q and A will follow the presentations.

Presented by:

Elizabeth Carll, PhD

Brigitte Khoury, PhD

Debbie Stiles, PhD

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to describe the difference between refugees and internally displaced people.
2. Participants will be able to describe the various roles students can be engaged in while working in conflict and disaster zones
3. Participants will be able to identify the psychosocial problems resulting of the inhumane and unlawful treatment of children who have been separated, detained, and deported.
4. Participants will identify various approaches to engaging lawmakers and educating them about child psychology.

Bios:

Elizabeth Carll, PhD is a licensed psychologist in New York, founder and chair of the Refugee Mental Health Resource Network (RMHRN), an APA Interdivisional Project. She is a founding member and a former president of the APA Trauma Psychology Division and chairs the International Committee. A former chair of the United Nations NGO Committee on Mental Health, she is the founder and chair of its Global Mental Health and NCDs Working Group and serves on boards of non-profit organizations. Moderator.

Brigitte Khoury, PhD is an associate professor and clinical psychologist at the Psychiatry Department at the Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut. She is the director of the Clinical Psychology Training Program as well as the Director of the Arab Regional Center for Research and Training in Mental Health. She is the founding president of the Lebanese Psychological Association, the vice president of the Arab Union of Psychology, and the current president of APA Division 52 (international).

Debbie Stiles, PhD is a professor of applied educational psychology and school psychology at Webster University, where she is now in her 40th year of teaching. She is a human rights fellow, research scientist, Fulbright scholar, and licensed psychologist who has dedicated her professional life to understanding and helping vulnerable children and adolescents. Over the years, Webster University encouraged her to visit schools, consult, and conduct research in thirteen countries of the world.

References:

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