天天吃瓜 Assistant Professor of has co-written and co-edited her first book, 鈥.鈥 The book, from Sage Publishing, brings together leaders in the field to share information about culturally sensitive approaches to providing therapy to trauma-exposed populations.
Designed to establish a foundational framework for working with trauma-exposed immigrants and refugees, the book introduces innovative approaches to address client mental health problems while supporting adjustment to life in a new country. It presents six different models for applying and integrating Western theory and related practice strategies for working with individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations, volunteers and local workforces.
鈥淕lobal migration is increasing as a result of violent regional conflicts, climate change, and scarcity of resources and opportunities that propel people to leave their home countries,鈥 Hilado said. 鈥淭hose that make the journey to new countries often carry a mix of joy and hope for the future as well as trauma from the loss and violence experienced in their migration journey. This book is to prepare entry- to advanced-level professionals who will address the mental health needs that deeply affect immigrants and refugees fleeing terror and persecution and hoping to rebuild their lives with safety and dignity.鈥
Hilado has worked in the field of refugee mental health and trauma since 2007. In 2011, she started the Wellness Program with , the largest refugee resettlement agency in Chicago.
鈥淎s the needs of immigrant and refugee populations continue to grow, I will continue to teach and work on disseminating materials that will prepare us to address those needs,鈥 she said.
Drawing on her professional experiences, Hilado co-wrote six chapters of 鈥淢odels for Practice With Immigrants and Refugees鈥 and co-edited the book with Loyola University Chicago Social Work Professor .
鈥淭his book came out of conversations about how we couldn鈥檛 find a good textbook to use in our immigrant and refugee courses, so we went ahead and put one together ourselves,鈥 Hilado said. 鈥淭his is just the beginning鈥攚e are already thinking of the second edition that will add content on working with interpreters and specific cases by ethnicity.鈥
Aimee Hilado