How to Conduct Newcomer Support Groups for Latino Immigrant Youth

Training Options  Duration: 60 Minutes  Training Options  Duration: 60 Minutes  Friday, August 17, 2018   |   10:00 AM PDT | 01:00 PM EDT
Overview: This workshop will introduce to participants the "why and how" to conduct 
support groups with Latino immigrant youth who enter the United States by crossing the border. 
Many, if not most of these immigrants have similar experiences that impact their emotional and 
behavioral health such as the stressors and/or traumas of their native country to include 
killings, sexual violence, domestic abuse, the takeover of gang life, extortion, etc. and their 
arduous journey through Central America, Mexico and crossing the Rio Grande.
The impact of being caught by ICE and being sent to a detention center also may leave emotional 
scars. Once they are reunited with their families, they must adjust to these changes and to a 
new culture, language and school system. All of these changes can leave a youth with limited 
coping skills, heightened depression and anxiety. 
These common experiences makes for conducting an immigrant support group easier and the most 
efficient modality to support as many youth as possible during their transition to a new 
country. The presenter will briefly cover the three main areas that impact Latino immigrant 
youth: "Pre-migration, Migration and Post-migration" and how these topics are incorporated into 
group activities. Once these areas are understood by the participants, they can better 
understand the purpose of each activity. 

Speaker Profile Vilma E. Matos is a clinical bilingual social worker with over 35 years of experience working 
with the Latino community. In the past 20 years she has been providing individual, group and 
family interventions for Latino immigrant youth. She has presented on this topic to school 
districts, mental health clinics and at conferences on best practices when interfacing with 
this population. Her dedication goes one step farther as she has designed a board game uniquely 
suited for Latino immigrants. My Journey to the United States - Mis Pasos a los Estados Unidos 
Board Game© has been used by social workers, psychologists, guidance counselors and mental 
health workers throughout the United states as a facilitating tool to help these youth open up 
about their past and present experiences. Once trust is established, significant interventions 
and healing can begin. 
Ms. Matos is also Vice President of the National Association of Puerto Rican/Hispanic Social 
Workers and currently works part-time as a bilingual therapist, school social worker, 
consultant and presenter all in the area of Latino immigrants.
Price - $139Contact Info:Netzealous LLC - MentorHealthPhone No: 1-800-385-1607Fax: 302-288-6884 Email: support@mentorhealth.comWebsite: http://www.mentorhealth.com/Webinar Sponsorship: https://www.mentorhealth.com/control/webinar-sponsorship/Follow us on : https://www.facebook.com/MentorHealth1Follow us on :  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mentorhealth/Follow us on : https://twitter.com/MentorHealth1