A community healing intervention for Afghan women of Salt Lake City : a study of the Community Resiliency and Family Teaching (CRAFT) Project

Degree Name

MA in International and Intercultural Management

First Advisor

Gail von Hahmann

Abstract

This paper explores a community healing intervention designed for Afghan refugee women in Salt Lake City, Utah. Intervention design and implementation consist of five principles. They include: 1) use the community as a source of strength, 2) address the needs of the community as defined by its participants, 3) collaborate with ethnic communities and community resources, 4) build group capacity for community empowerment and 5) identify cultural differences in order to successfully implement the intervention. The research question this paper explores is "What impact will a participant-driven, culturally appropriate community healing intervention have on the displacement stressors and anxiety/depression levels of its participants." In order to assess impact, the research explores the capacity to which an intervention addresses the five principles stated above through the use of three data collection tools. Research was conducted using quantitative and qualitative measures. Quantitative measures included the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist and a Quality of Life Survey administered to participants pre- and mid-intervention. Qualitative measures included participant, interpreter, and facilitator interviews conducted mid-intervention. The study revealed that through careful planning, and working across several cultures, community-healing interventions are an effective way to improve the quality of life of its participants. This study will assist other community healing interventions identify the crucial components of the intervention, for program success.

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