Immigrant Mental Health

As the number of immigrants arriving and living in the U.S. has significantly increased in the past decades, awareness of the challenges they face has also increased, including a significant need for mental health services and resources. It is therefore critical that mental health clinicians have a solid understanding of the cultural and psychosocial factors that immigrant populations experience, whether they be first- or second-generation. Building more specific knowledge about various immigrant groups, their unique cultural factors, and sociopolitical conditions of multiple countries of origin allows clinicians to implement sensitivity to an immigrant's unique migration process, post-migration stressors, and their ongoing acculturative process by considering the heterogeneity of immigrant experiences.

The mental health needs of immigrants span multiple developmental stages of life and various areas of life. Therefore, knowing the prevalence of mental health disorders across immigrant groups, the culturally specific manifestations of symptoms, and how to implement trauma-informed care is imperative. To effectively provide care for immigrant patients, clinicians can utilize a structural framework to inform clinical interventions that draw upon culturally sensitive, evidence-based treatments.

This new series will lay a basic foundation of the immigrant experience, explore common issues encountered by healthcare providers who work with immigrant populations, and provide suggested strategies to address patients' mental health needs. Participants will leave equipped with tools to improve patient-provider dialogue, increase therapeutic engagement, and promote better mental health outcomes for their immigrant patients. We welcome all mental health and primary care providers to join us! 

Who Should Attend

• Specialty Physicians
• Psychologists
• Physician Assistants
• Nurses
• Nurse Practitioners
• Primary Care Physicians
• Others

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify culturally specific psychosocial factors that contribute to and exacerbate mental health issues for immigrants and their families.
• Review how culturally specific groups are impacted by trauma, drug addiction, and domestic violence.
• Identify methods to effectively assess and treat immigrant patients and their families who experience mental health needs as a result of post-migration stressors.
• Utilize culturally sensitive knowledge and communication strategies to connect with and encourage greater patient engagement.
• List strategies for partnering more effectively with medical interpreters to provide optimal care in a patient's native language.
• Identify tailored area resources that patients and the care team can access and utilize.

ABMS/ACGME Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) / Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:

• Patient Care and Procedural Skills
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills

IOM Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following Institute of Medicine Core Competencies:

• Provide Patient-Centered Care
• Employ Evidence-Based Practice

Questions?

Please contact the Continuing Education Programs with any questions by email at ceprograms@hms.harvard.edu.

All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Carline Jean-Baptiste, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Staff Psychologist, Cambridge Health Alliance

Triveni DeFries, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, UCSF
Executive Director, UCSF Health & Human Rights Initiative
Medical Director, UCSF Human Rights Collaborative
Substance Use Warmline Consultant, National Clinician Consultation Center

Isabel Pinto-Franco

Medical Interpreter, Cambridge Health Alliance

Margaret Lanca, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Staff Psychologist, Allied Health Professional Staff, Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance
Director of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Wellness and Director of Population Behavioral Health Innovation, Cambridge Health Alliance

Albert Lo, PhD

Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Outpatient Child Psychologist, Cambridge Health Alliance

Soledad Vera, PhD

Instructor in Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Staff Psychologist, Cambridge Health Alliance

Course Directors

Ingrid Sarmiento, PhD

Instructor in Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Outpatient Adult Psychologist, Cambridge Health Alliance

Luciana Quintanilha, MSW, LICSW

Clinical Social Worker, Outpatient Psychiatry and Perinatal Mental Health Team, Cambridge Health Alliance

Karen Kuc, MPH

Director, Continuing Education in Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance​​​
Associate in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

In support of improving patient care, Harvard Medical School is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians

The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses

For the purpose of recertification, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and American Nurses Credentialing Center accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education). We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure. 

Psychologists

Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 7.50 continuing education credits.

Social Workers

Application for social work continuing education credits has been submitted. Please contact us at cme@challiance.org for the status of social work CE accreditation. NY Social Workers: Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an Approved Provider #0038 of continuing education for licensed social workers. This course offers 7.50 contact hours.

Counselors

Cambridge Health Alliance is an Affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5444. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course meets the requirements for 7.50 continuing education hours, and is also applicable for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Counseling/Allied Mental Health accreditation for 7.50 credits.

Marriage/Family Therapists

Application for LMFT continuing education credits has been submitted. Please contact us at cme@challiance.org for the status of CE accreditation.  

Physician Assistants

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

Canadian Accreditation

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.

European Accreditation

The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found here.

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, family therapists, and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. In addition, this course has been approved as a live virtual series and we cannot issue certificates for only watching the recordings; participants must be present for all of the live sessions. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org.

Tuition for Immigrant Mental Health is listed below. You may register through our secure online environment and will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment. Prices include CME credit, electronic syllabus and access to recordings for 30 days after the course.

At the end of the registration process, a $10 non-refundable processing fee will be added to your registration. Refunds, less an administrative fee of $75, will be issued for all cancellations received at least two weeks prior to the start of the course. Refund requests must be made in our secure online system or by email. “No shows” are subject to the full course fee.

Course Tuition

Physician (MD/DO)

$275 / ($245 if registered by February 19, 2025)

All Other Health Professionals

$215 / ($190 if registered by February 19, 2025)