62. How Can Schools Better Support Refugee and Migrant Students? w/ Ilana Seff and Jeremy Aldrich
In the latest episode of the Global Health Pursuit podcast, we explore the challenges refugee and migrant youth face as they adapt to new countries, cultures, and educational systems. This episode features Ilana Seff, a public health expert affiliated with the SALaMA study, and Jeremy Aldrich, an advocate for inclusive education and bilingual learning. Together, they delve into how schools and communities can support these young people, ensuring they not only survive but truly thrive in their new environments.
Understanding the Challenges
Ilana Seff's work with the SALaMA study offers a profound look into the mental health and psychosocial challenges these students encounter. These young individuals often bring with them a history of exposure to conflict, social dislocation, and the daunting task of learning new cultural norms and languages. The study highlights the crucial role educational institutions play in offering stability and fostering a sense of belonging. According to Ilana, school belonging can significantly buffer against mental health risks, including suicidal ideation, and promote resilience and well-being.
Language and Cultural Integration
Jeremy Aldrich shares his perspective on the importance of language in identity formation and cultural belonging. His insights, drawn from years of experience as an ESL teacher and director of bilingual education networks, highlight how dual language programs can serve as a critical support mechanism. By providing instruction in both a student's native language and English, schools in diverse areas like Harrisonburg, Virginia, offer a more inclusive environment that eases the transition for migrant students.
Building Supportive Networks
The episode also emphasizes the importance of broader support systems beyond classroom instruction. Programs like peer mentoring and the implementation of cultural liaisons are vital in bridging gaps between students' home cultures and their new educational settings. These initiatives encourage community involvement and ensure that students and their families have access to necessary resources and support, fostering a collective approach to integration.
Encouraging Hope and Resilience
Incorporating mental health and cultural competence into educational frameworks is not optional but essential. By prioritizing these elements, schools can create environments that support the holistic needs of refugee and migrant youth. This episode of the Global Health Pursuit podcast underscores the shared responsibility we have in building communities of hope, resilience, and understanding. Through collaborative efforts, we can help these students achieve their full potential and make meaningful contributions to their new communities.
Ilana Seff’s research agenda focuses on improving the lives of vulnerable and marginalized populations across the globe using evidence-based solutions. Her broad research experience and interests include the prevention of violence against women and girls, particularly in humanitarian settings, social norms related to violence, and the psychosocial well-being and mental health of refugees and displaced populations. Seff received her DrPH in Global Health and Humanitarian Systems from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, and an MPH from the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University.
Jeremy Aldrich is the Director of Teaching and Learning in Harrisonburg City Public Schools and has worked with the Dual Language program there for more than seven years. He is proud to have been the first president of VADLEN and of the work the organization has already done in advocacy and networking. He completed a doctoral degree at George Mason University. His dissertation focused on Dual Language in middle and high schools.
