Refugee Mental Health Initiatives (RMHI)

Refugee Mental Health Initiatives (RMHI) are funded by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Office of Refugee Health (ORH), administered by Public Health Institute’s Sehat Initiative and Cypress Resilience Project, and implemented by community-based organizations statewide to address the disproportionate mental health challenges faced by refugee populations upon their arrival in the United States. The grantees we work with throughout California include refugee resettlement organizations and other community-based organizations that specialize in supporting refugees. 

  • This program responds to the mental health needs of ORR–eligible Afghan refugees through the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate, non-clinical emotional and mental health support, peer counseling, resource navigation, and clinical referrals.

    Abbreviated Name: RAMHI

    Project period: 11/28/2022 — 9/30/2025

    Geographic locations: California, esp. Sacramento, LA, Orange, Stanislaus, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Diego counties

    Number of people to be served: 2,282

    Population: ORR-eligible Afghan refugees

    Activities: screening with RHS-15, wellness groups, health education classes, peer support services, referrals to mental health counseling, community outreach

    Partner organizations: nine community-based organizations: Access California, Afghan Coalition, International Institute of Los Angeles, IRC Oakland, IRC Sacramento, IRC Turlock, MAS-SSF, Pars Equality Center, Survivors of Torture International

  • This program provides culturally and linguistically appropriate virtual and/or in-person clinical counseling and referrals to long-term clinical services for ORR–eligible Afghan refugees throughout California.

    Abbreviated Name: RAMHI Telehealth

    Project period: 11/1/2023 — 9/30/2025

    Geographic location: California

    Number of people to be served: 250

    Population: ORR-eligible Afghan refugees

    Activities: individual counseling, referrals to long-term counseling, community outreach

  • This program responds to the mental health needs of ORR-eligible refugees through culturally and linguistically appropriate non-clinical emotional and mental health support, peer counseling, resource navigation, and clinical referrals.

    Abbreviated Name: RHPP—RMHI

    Project period: 11/15/2023 — 9/30/2024

    Geographic location: California

    Number of people to be served: 615

    Population: ORR-eligible refugees

    Activities: screening with RHS-15, wellness groups, health education classes, peer support services, referrals to mental health counseling, community outreach

  • This program responds to the mental health needs of ORR–eligible Ukrainian refugees through culturally and linguistically appropriate, clinical and non-clinical, emotional and mental health support counseling, resource navigation, and clinical referrals.

    Abbreviated Name: UHP—RMHI

    Project period: 12/1/2023 — 9/30/2025

    Geographic location: California areas with high numbers of UHPs resettling

    Number of people to be served: 480

    Population: ORR-eligible Ukraine refugees

    Activities: assist refugees with processing emotions and adjusting to current realities by mitigating stress, developing coping strategies, providing emotional support, and encouraging outreach to resources and longer-term supportive services

RMHI projects focus on providing culturally relevant, linguistically appropriate holistic care to support the mental health and well-being of refugees.

Download RMHI Community Flyers
Explore in-person, telehealth, and digital mental health services