As you know, in the first week of August, ORR published ORR PL 21-07, Amendment to ORR Policy Letter 16-01: Additional Form of Documentation for Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrants. In addition, in response to concerns about Afghans with SI/SQ parole (per section 602(B)(1) AAPA / Section 1509(a) NDAA 2006) not being able to access mainstream benefits, ORR took two main steps.

1. Issued ORR DCL 21-16, Clarification Related to Afghan SQ/SI Parolees Eligibility for RCA/RMA, as a reminder that if these Afghan parolees are found ineligible for TANF or Medicaid, they should be screened for RCA and

Attached please find Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) 21-16 Clarification Related to Afghan SQ/SI Parolees Eligibility for RCA/RMA. It will be posted to the DCL page of the ORR web site in the near future (https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/dear-colleague-letter). Please distribute as appropriate to your networks as these individuals have begun arriving to their resettlement locations within the United States. Contact ORR’s Refugee Policy Unit (RefugeePolicy@acf.hhs.gov) with any questions.

Attached please find FAQs and related resources for Afghan SIVs being processed out of Fort Lee.

By Eugene F. Augusterfer and Richard F. Mollica

First, let us start by defining blended or hybrid telehealth. As the name suggests, blended or hybrid telehealth is a combination of traditional face-to-face clinical encounters blended with virtual or telehealth encounters. When possible, it is best to have an initial meeting face-to-face, then move to telehealth meetings. Studies and experience have demonstrated that while using telehealth, occasional face-to-face meetings mixed with telehealth meetings is more efficacious.

This document is a resource for current literature, April - June, on the topic of the mental health status of and treatments for torture survivors, war trauma survivors, refugees, and asylum seekers. This also includes research in the area of social work that relates directly to the psychological well-being of these populations. The compilation below includes peer reviewed journal article citations in these areas and links to the publicly available abstracts and full text versions of these articles. It does not currently include articles on policy and advocacy.

Here is a recent special report in Emergency Medicine News, “Torture Survivors: Hidden in Plain Sight,” by Gina Shaw, which cites many of our friends from Libertas Center for Human Rights, like Dr. Lars Beattie and Dr. Rajeev Bais (both founders of Libertas), and Dr. Dinali Fernando, as well as Dr. Allen Keller (founder of Bellevue Program for Survivors of Torture).

“A Field Report on the Pilot Implementation of Problem Management Plus with Lay Providers in an Eritrean Refugee Setting in Ethiopia” - This report covers a pilot training program that was conducted with paraprofessionals working with Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia, focused on skills and delivery of the Problem Management Plus (PM+) intervention, which focuses on mental health needs in humanitarian crises, including COVID response. Authors Frezgi Gebrekristos, MA, EQUIP focal person, CVT Ethiopia-Tigray; Liyam Eloul, MA, clinical advisor; and Shannon Golden, PH.D., research associate; write about the project and lessons learned. Download the PDF here.

“Development of a Tool to Assess Competencies of Problem Management Plus Facilitators Using Observed Standardised Role Plays: The EQUIP Competency Rating Scale for Problem Management Plus”

Telehealth.HHS.gov has added a new best practice guide on telehealth for behavioral health care. Behavioral health – like other areas of health care – has changed significantly due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. It is now easier for mental health providers to offer and get reimbursed for telebehavioral health services. Telehealth can also make behavioral health services safer and more private and convenient for patients who can access care from their home. Find resources in the telebehavioral health best practice guide on getting started, developing a strategy, billing, preparing