Finding the Joy and Power of Play
Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health (CIRH), a program of Public Health Institute (PHI), is proud to highlight the efforts of our dedicated grantees in providing culturally responsive and accessible services to Afghan refugees across California through the Afghan Refugee School Impact—Support to Schools (ARSI—S2S) program. This initiative is made possible with support from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the Office of Immigrant Youth (OIY).
The following stories reflect real experiences of Afghan clients. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect their privacy.
Half of the refugees admitted from Afghanistan are school-age children, facing the challenges of adjusting to a new culture, school system, and community. Programs like ALEFE’s parenting and school engagement workshops provide critical support for these families, fostering children’s emotional wellbeing, social development, and successful integration into the new communities.
A Family’s Journey
When the X family resettled in California in 2022, they faced many of the same challenges as other Afghan refugee families, such as navigating unfamiliar systems, managing financial stress, and adjusting to a new culture. Amid all of this, X and Z, parents of young children, were determined to stay connected with their kids and support them as they adapted to school and new social environments.
Bonding Through Play
That determination led them to ALEFE’s parenting and school engagement workshops. What made the program unique was that while parents attended their sessions, children of all ages participated in parallel activities designed to nurture their growth and development. For the X family, it was both an opportunity to learn and to play together.
During one workshop focused on creating simple, at-home games, the ALEFE counselor encouraged parents to test out activities themselves. Mr. X and Mrs. Z dove right in and even competed against one another to see who could master the activities best. They were so absorbed in the experience that they didn’t notice the time pass, and when the workshop ended, they weren’t ready to stop.
Instead, they gathered their children and proudly shared the activities they had just learned. Soon, the whole family was playing together—parents leading games they had designed while children laughing with excitement. Everyone enjoyed a moment of joy and connection.
Later, X and Z shared how much they valued the chance to bond with their children in this way, and how excited they were to bring these kinds of activities into their home life. For them, the workshop wasn’t just about learning strategies but also rediscovering the simple, transformative power of play.
Empowering Families for Long-Term Success
Through ALEFE’s culturally responsive programs, families like this are not only navigating the challenges of resettlement but also strengthening parent-child bonds and supporting children’s emotional and social development. Programs like this continue to build the everyday moments of joy and the foundations for successful integration into their new communities.
Centering Culture to Build Connection
At CIRH, we are proud to partner with the Afghan Refugee Relief in providing services that meet Afghan Refugee clients where they are, with empathy, respect, and understanding.
Through the Refugee School Impact (RSI) Program, our partners provide holistic, linguistically appropriate care that supports the well-being of refugee communities.
