Flourishing in Partnerships: Observations of the Acculturation Needs of Refugees

Understanding the unique experience and challenges of refugees entering the United States is important for healthcare, education, and mental health professionals so they are enabled to adequately address the needs and concerns of this population. These individuals represent many cultural backgrounds and experiences that led them to seek refuge in a country with a culture and language not their own, and in which they have relatively little financial, educational, and social supports. This article seeks to share insights gained from work with refugee support groups designed to assist individuals from like backgrounds to learn and share information necessary to their successful resettlement, for fellowship and support, and to have the opportunity to express needs and concerns regarding the challenges they are facing.