By WCER Communications
Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) researcher Matt Wolfgram and the Catholic Multicultural Center were awarded a three-year grant of up to $1.5 million from the Wisconsin Partnership Program for an initiative to study and improve access to culturally appropriate mental health services for members of immigrant and refugee communities in South Central Wisconsin.
The award was one of nine totaling $3.5 million statewide made in January to support innovative, community-led approaches to addressing critical community health needs including access to housing, health care, education, and workforce development. Five of the grants went to projects pairing a community group with an academic partner.
The initiative developed by Wolfgram and the multicultural center will train English-speaking leaders of immigrant and refugee groups to counsel members of their community about ways to overcome newcomer stress, integration struggles, or other issues. For leaders who excel in the program, the grant will pay for tuition to help them become professional counselors if they desire. Wolfgram will work with the leaders to gather data about the significant barriers to mental health services these populations face and possible solutions.