The Effectiveness of Cultural Adjustment and Trauma Services (CATS): Generating Practice‐Based Evidence on a Comprehensive, School‐Based Mental Health Intervention for Immigrant Youth

Abstract

A collaborative study of Cultural Adjustment and Trauma Services (CATS), a comprehensive, school-based mental health program for traumatized immigrant children and adolescents, was conducted to generate practice-based evidence on the service delivery model across two school districts. Program effectiveness was assessed by testing whether client functioning and PTSD symptoms improved as a result of 7 separate service elements. An array of clinical services including CBT, supportive therapy, and coordinating services were provided to all students, and an evidence-based intervention for trauma, TF-CBT, was implemented with a subset of students. Greater quantities of CBT and supportive therapy increased functioning, while greater quantities of coordinating services decreased symptoms of PTSD. TF-CBT services were associated with both improved functioning and PTSD symptoms, although TF-CBT was implemented with fidelity to the overall comprehensive service model rather than the structured intervention model. Results suggest the comprehensive school-based model was effective, though different service components affected different student outcomes. Implications of these findings for immigrant mental health interventions and implementing structured evidence-based practices into community mental health programs are discussed. Suggestions are made for future research on existing mental health practices with immigrants.

Family interventions in traumatized immigrants and refugees: A systematic review

“…Three studies (Beehler et al, 2012;Kataoka et al, 2003;Mo¨hlen et al, 2005) reported significant reductions in symptoms of PTSD. Three studies reported an increase in social functioning (Beehler et al, 2012;Birman et al, 2008;Mo¨hlen et al, 2005), and two reported an increase in mental health utilization (Weine et al, 2008;Weine et al, 2003). Only two studies included family variables, such as family hardiness, as outcomes (Weine et al, 2008;Weine et al, 2003).…”

“…Three of the studies were nonexperimental (Beehler et al, 2012;Birman et al, 2008;Weine et al, 2003), that is, they included only pretest and posttest evaluations (no control group). One study (Mo¨hlen et al, 2005) was quasi-experimental (included a control group) and two (Kataoka et al, 2003;Weine et al, 2008) employed a randomized controlled trial (comparison group and randomization).…”

Latino Immigrant Students in Spain: Potential Poly-Victims and School Underachievers

“…1 below) (Beehler, Birman, & Campbell, 2012;Pumariega, Rothe, & Pumariega, 2005). Many struggle with difficulties that were already present in the country of origin, for example, violence, social inequality, and poor education, and the new ones from the host country like acculturation, plus the lack of family and social networks (Glick & Clark, 2012).…”

“…4 below), less external support and more susceptibility to chronic stress (Beehler, Birman, & Campbell, 2012;Martin, Liem, Mok, & Xu, 2012). Considered a multidimensional phenomenon, social inequality endangers the individuals' physical and mental health (Alley et al, 2006;Chen, Cohen, & Miller, 2010;D'Angiulli, Lipina, & Olesinska, 2012;Evans & Kim, 2013), predisposing to learned helplessness (Abramson, Seligman, & Teasdale, 1978) and hopelessness (Bolland, 2003), increasing vulnerability and impeding the development of resilience (Chen, Cohen, & Miller, 2010;Werner & Smith, 1992).…”

Retrospective Assessment of Multiple Victimization among Immigrants in Spain

“…The significant burdens and challenges that socially disadvantaged groups experience increase the risk for psychological issues. (Beehler, Birman, & Campbell, 2012;Pumariega, Rothe, & Pumariega, 2005). Not only that, all too often immigrant women and children find themselves in a weaker position becoming targets from frustrated family heads (Erez, 2000;Erez, Adelman, & Gregory, 2009).…”