Health Program News
COVID-19 Wish List for New Refugee Families
During the spring 2020 season of physical distancing», distance learning, and economic downturn, newcomer families in San Diego County need support more than ever. NSDI ( Nile Sisters Development Initiative ) is working diligently through the COVID-19 crisis to provide essential services and emergency relief» Current efforts include all the following:
- Guiding 22 CalNEW» students and families through the logistics of receiving Chromebooks for distance learning from SDUSD ( San Diego Unified School District )»
- Assisting students and parents who want to receive installation of free Wi-Fi internet connection through Cox Connect2Compete» and Spectrum Internet.»
- Notifying SDUSD when families are in need of hotspot internet access
- Providing families with resource lists» translated into five languages. Lists include locations of food banks and free meals for students, COVID-19 safety measures, and school-closure updates.
- Helping students to navigate internet conferencing tools, ensuring that they have access to distance-learning websites, and providing one-on-one distance-learning assistance
- Conducting quality check-ins with parents, teachers, and counselors to address concerns of LEP ( Limited English Proficiency ) students and families engaging in distance learning
FULSToP Advocacy Leads to Menthol Ban in San Diego County
On Tuesday, January 14, 2020, the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors voted three-to-two in favor of a ban on flavored tobacco, including menthol. Leading to the vote, FULSToP» ( Families Uniting Locally to Solve Tobacco Proliferation ) provided legislative staff with informational resources relating to mentholated tobacco products.
The vote follows a unanimous decision to ban flavored tobacco products, including menthol, made by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors. The inclusion of menthol by both the County of San Diego and the County of Los Angeles is a progressive and more encompassing approach in the field of tobacco control.
Learn more about the ban.»
Learn more about FULSToP.»
Photo Caption: Tobacco-control advocates at the County Board of Supervisors’ meeting to vote on flavored-tobacco ban.
FULSToP CAB Completes Successful First Year of Advocacy
Photo Caption: The G.R.E.E.N. Foundation Executive Director Ernesta Wright, FULSToP CAB members, and Councilmember Jose F. Moreno
California Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez», County of San Diego Supervisor Nathan Fletcher», and City of San Diego Council President Georgette Gómez» recognized the 2018–19 FULSToP CAB» (community advocacy board) members for completing their first year of tobacco non-proliferation advocacy. For the past year, CAB members representing both San Diego and Orange counties have participated in several state and national tobacco-control activities and training sessions including . . .
- CYAN (California Youth Advocacy Youth Network) YouthQuest in Sacramento
- CYAN Statewide Youth Advocacy Conference»
- Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids» Youth Advocacy Training Symposium in Washington, DC
MIND | Institute Hosts Fourth Cohort for Behavioral Health Navigator Training
Slated to begin on May 14 and finish on June 11, 2019, a fourth cohort of Behavioral Health Navigators ( BHNs ) will train in MIND | Institute small-group lectures and discussions led by seasoned subject-matter experts on mental and behavioral health. To date, 31 BHNs, including individuals from refugee and immigrant backgrounds, have participated in the comprehensive training. Class sessions are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00–7:00pm. Candidates interested in participating in MIND | Institute training must submit application documents no later than 5:00pm, Friday, May 10.
MIND | Institute Application»
MIND Overview»
Previous Cohorts
First MIND | Institute Training Begins April 9»
Inaugural MIND | Institute Cohort Completes Training»
2018 Great American Smokeout a Success
The first annual GASO» (Great American Smokeout), hosted by FULSToP» in partnership with the San Diego City College Associated Students Government and the Student Health Clinic, was a success. On November 15, more than 50 participated in the event to draw attention to tobacco-related chronic health conditions and to offer support to people who want to stop smoking and live healthier lives. Event highlights included a super-scale smoke-free poster personalized with comments by attendees, live music, and free quit-smoking kits.
Local Faith-Based Organization Adopts Tobacco-Free Policy
The Church of God of Prophecy Abundant Life became the first faith-based organization in San Diego County to adopt the FULSToP» ( Families Uniting Locally to Solve Tobacco Proliferation ) voluntary congregational tobacco-free policy».
FULSToP is a community-based initiative that aims to reduce tobacco-related health disparities and make gains toward health equity through regional approaches in San Diego and Orange Counties. The congregational tobacco-free policy is a voluntary approach to help faith-based organizations to promote the complete physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health and wellness of their congregations. The policy creates a tobacco-free environment, encourages smokers to quit, and ensures all congregants protection from secondhand and thirdhand smoke.
New Outpatient Program Supports Victims of Crime
NSDI ( Nile Sisters Development Initiative ) unveils a new initiative to provide supportive and culturally congruent outpatient services to victims of crime» who are coping with mild-to-moderate behavioral and mental health conditions within refugee and ethnic communities. The new program fills a previous void in community hope, healing, and prevention education.
Individuals with a confirmed appointment will receive a myriad of services, including victim assistance, intake assessment, group treatment, specialized therapy, case management, and wraparound support. The current outpatient weekly schedule is Wednesday from 10:00am to 4:00pm., but the appointment range likely will expand in January 2019.
Inaugural MIND | Institute Cohort Complete Training
In early May, the first MIND | Institute» cohort successfully completed the one-month training program designed to increase awareness of behavioral health within refugee and ethnic newcomer populations. MIND | Institute participants engaged in small-group lectures and discussions led by seasoned subject-matter experts in cultural proficiency, behavioral health, law enforcement, public health, and other areas of interest to refugee and ethnic populations.
Trainee Representation
- 3 statuses: refugee, student visa holder, US citizen
- 8 nationalities: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Mexico, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, USA
- 15 languages
- 18% male, 82% female
First MIND | Institute Training Begins April 9
Nile Sisters Development Initiative ( NSDI ) is proud to introduce MIND | Institute, a comprehensive training program for candidates interested in becoming behavioral health navigators for refugee and ethnic populations. MIND» ( Matters Involving Neuro-Disorders ) is a community-driven initiative that seeks to ensure that refugee and ethnic populations have equitable access to culturally and linguistically proficient mental and behavioral health resources. Through the Institute, prospective behavioral health navigators will learn key concepts for consideration when working with culturally diverse and underserved populations.The initial MIND | Institute behavioral health navigator training begins Monday, April 9.
MIND | Institute encompasses eight classes spanning one month, covering topics ranging from cultural competence and law enforcement to behavioral health. Specific subject-matter experts and the NSDI Health Advocacy Coordinator will present the material covered in each session.
NSDI Leads State-Sponsored Refugee Mental Health Session
On October 28, 2017, MHSOAC» the California ( Mental Health Services and Oversight Accountability Commission ) held a community forum» in Los Angeles to discuss the impact of Proposition 63, known as the Mental Health Services Act ( MHSA ).
The Client and Family Leadership Committee and the Cultural and Linguistic Competence Committee facilitated the forum, and NSDI ( Nile Sisters Development Initiative ) led a breakout session that covered the topic of refugee mental health, the first of its kind for the MHSOAC.
