The National Hispanic & Latino Mental Health Technology Transfer Center in partnership with Mary’s Center and the University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work the will be hosting a free web panel for non-clinicians, case managers, clinical supervisors, health providers, program directors, administrators, and personnel who provide post-release services to unaccompanied minors.

This webinar focuses on key aspects of mental health assessment strategies for unaccompanied minors in the United States (US). The webinar will introduce participants to a definition of assessment, provide an overview of best practices for cross-cultural assessment, and introduce participants to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) as one measure of psychosocial wellbeing that can be implemented in multiple clinical settings.

Learning objectives:

1. Participants will learn how mental health assessment has been used in research to understand the complex psychosocial needs of unaccompanied minors.

2. Participants will learn about assessment strategies that can help identify complex mental health needs of unaccompanied minors.

3. Participants will learn how the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire can help identify symptoms of psychosocial distress as well as prosocial behavior that unaccompanied minors may experience.

Presenter:

Robert G. Hasson III, Ph.D., LICSW is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Providence College. He holds a BA in Psychology from Saint Michael’s College, and a MSW and Ph.D. in Social Work from the Boston College School of Social Work. Robert’s research focuses on the intersection of child welfare and immigration. He is particularly interested in examining risk and protective factors for unaccompanied children who experience forced migration. In addition, a goal of Robert’s research is to inform the development of clinical interventions and policies that serve children and adolescents exposed to trauma as a result of forced migration.