Some exciting news!

This past weekend I received some exciting news...I got accepted into the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma. More specifically the Global Mental Health:Trauma and Recovery certificate program offered through Harvard (Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma website). This program is a six month program with on-site learning for two intensive weeks in Orvieto, Italy (about an hour north of Rome) followed by six months of online learning.

This month marks two years that I have been with Catholic Charities Refugee Program. I have fallen in love with the refugee population over these past few years. Since starting here I have run a mental health wellness group with the refugees off and on. I have a history working in the mental health field and have a huge desire to focus on the mental wellness of the refugee population; something that is signicificantly lacking currently. While exploring better ways to do this I found out about the Global Mental Health program and applied. At the same time I, as well as my boss, started looking into grants that would not only fund the certificate program but would also help with the start up of a more extensive and in-depth mental health program at Catholic Charities.

The first step is done: I got into the program. Now, it's just a waiting game for the next couple of weeks to see if we get the grant! Without the grant I will most likely not be able to afford to complete the program. Although we will still implement a mental health component to the Refugee Program without the grant, receiving the grant will allow for so much more development.

I sent in my official acceptance into the program today in hopes that we will receive the grant! If you think of it, keep your fingers crossed and your prayers high! Not only for myself, but because of the great ways this grant can impact the refugee community of Indianapolis.