Immigrant Mental Health Justice: Looking Beyond the Research to Practice Gap toward Policy Advocacy

Dr. Rusch is Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and a member of the Community Engagement and Collaboration Core of UIC’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from UIC and completed her pre-doctoral internship at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Dr. Rusch directs the Immigrant Family Mental Health Advocacy Program at the Institute for Juvenile Research, which she established to advance research-practice-policy training in the area of immigrant family mental health. Dr. Rusch’s program of work focuses on the mental health context of migration and the impact of anti-immigrant policies on immigrant youth and families. She is interested in developing models of mental health promotion that elevate the unique contributions of community-based organizations and the critical role of non-traditional providers in supporting Latinx immigrant mental health and well-being. Her work extends into local advocacy efforts and translating research into policy action and systems-level change. Dr. Rusch actively participates in local and national immigrant justice initiatives, including the Coalition for Immigrant Mental Health in which she is a leadership member and Policy Co-Chair, the UIC Provost’s Taskforce on Immigration Issues, the Midwest Human Right Consortium, and APA’s Division 27- Society for Community Research and Action Immigration Justice Special Interest Group.

Objectives:

1. Identify population-level statistics about immigrants living in the state of Illinois and Chicago.
2. Discuss how national policies negatively impact the mental health of immigrant youth and families.
3. Describe local efforts to support the mental health and well-being of immigrant youth and families in Illinois and Chicago.

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1credit AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Continuing Education Units (1) will be available for Social Workers and affiliated reciprocal agencies. Illinois Board License number 159-000112.

The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois Chicago is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.  The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois Chicago maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This event is 1 credit hour continuing education.

No member of the planning committee for this activity have reported a relevant relationship with a commercial interest.  There is no conflict of interest and nothing to disclose.

Dana Rusch has no relevant financial relationship with commercial interests related to this CME activity.