backgrounds that suit their specific needs. To address the gaps in understanding of the unique challenges immigrant populations face, El Futuro and the NCIOM came together in collaboration with an advisory council of individuals experienced in working with immigrant resources and mental health. The group then developed strategies to help procure equitable mental health care for North Carolina’s immigrant communities.

Addressing both the resiliency of immigrant populations and ongoing needs to improve mental health, the landscape analysis focuses on factors that influence the mental health of immigrants, barriers to care, the efficacy of mental health resources for immigrants, and policy analysis that defines areas for development or further enforcement. The landscape analysis not only provides a detailed exploration of issues impacting immigrants and their health and wellness in North Carolina, but it also makes the case for stronger community connections and ushers in a time of forging new pathways forward. El Futuro now looks to expand the network of people interested in coalescing on immigrant mental health work in the state.

Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN—Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of the PhD program at Duke University School of Nursing and a champion of health equity and intersectional understandings of mental health outcomes for Latinos in the United States—welcomed guests to the convention at the McKimmon Center. Luke Smith, Executive Director of El Futuro, followed with an introduction to the organization and its ongoing efforts to provide accessible behavioral health services to North Carolina’s Latino communities. Michelle Ries, MPH, President and CEO of the NCIOM, gave an overview of the partnership with El Futuro.

Guest speaker Yazmin Garcia Rico, MSW, Director of Community Engagement and Impact at the Cone Health Foundation, spoke to the audience about her own personal experiences with mental health and the powerful role of community in building resolve and increasing positive mental health outcomes for immigrants. She said that “addressing the health needs of the state will require continuous effort.”

Honey Estrada, MPH; Melina Ksor, MS, CHES; and Mary Jones, BS, all joined NCIOM’s Brieanne Lyda-McDonald, MSPH, for a panel discussion on immigrant mental health, emphasizing the need for ongoing services, moving forward with urgency and hope, and the importance of culturally responsive care. They responded to questions regarding the value in working to understand North Carolina’s immigrant mental health landscape, key learnings from their communities, and how leaders and interested parties can move the agenda forward.

Honey Yang Estrada, MPH, CHW, discussed helping the community and living into her role as president of the North Carolina Community Health Worker Association during a panel discussion, saying “If not me, then who?” Estrada pointed to the idea that community work and the efforts needed to create systemic change begin with the interested individuals who are willing to forge ahead despite uncertainties.

There is a unique set of challenges to address when it comes to providing adequate services for the immigrant populations of North Carolina, including language barriers, socioeconomic issues, political narratives, legal statuses, and varying degrees of cultural awareness amongst providers and greater support networks. Despite these challenges, all of which appeared as key findings in the landscape analysis, guest speaker Dr. Cristina Rabadán-Diehl, PharmD, PhD, MPH, noted that, “if we are paralyzed by fear or uncertainty, we will waste valuable time.” Rabadán-Diehl’s presentation also touched on the importance of policy work, its relationship to mental health, and mobilization around the state, naming “culturally responsive care” as “necessary for improved behavioral health outcomes.”

The convention included time for table discussions, where individuals spoke to their own experiences and involvement in immigrant mental health networks. Attendees discussed the benefits, challenges, and future of creating an Immigrant Solidarity Network in North Carolina. The event also featured performances from Pavelid Castañeda, a Colombian harpist, and dancers from the Leela School of Dance who presented a piece based in the tradition of Bharata Natyam, a style of Indian classical dance.

The landscape analysis houses several resources and organizations that provide access to mental health care for immigrants in North Carolina. Looking ahead, El Futuro plans to expand the network of individuals and organizations dedicated to providing health services that focus on mental health and well-being. For more information, visit elfuturo-nc.org.

Check out the full landscape analysis here: https://nciom.org/immigrant-mental-health/

The 2024 Immigrant Mental Health in North Carolina Landscape Analysis was supported by grants from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation and the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.