Increasing Community Supports and Access to Services for New Americans

People come to the United States for many reasons, often seeking safety, stability, and new opportunities. Some individuals and families have experienced difficult or unsafe conditions before and during their transition to a new community.

Moving to a new environment can bring challenges, including language differences, separation from family, and difficulty accessing services. Because of this, it is important to ensure fair access to services that are responsive to community needs and experiences.

Some community members may face risk factors such as social isolation, language differences, and limited access to services. Protective factors include strong family connections, community support, and access to resources that meet individual needs.

In partnership with the Virginia Office of New Americans (ONA), this program supports collaboration among community partners, promotes sustainable mental health and prevention efforts, and improves access to behavioral health services.

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) prevention team, in collaboration with ONA, also organizes multiple conferences across Virginia (approximately three annually) that bring together community members, providers, and stakeholders. These conferences offer resources, guidance, and education through workshops and keynote speakers who are experts in mental health and community support.

Additionally, DBHDS provides ongoing cultural awareness trainings and multiple Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trainings each year to strengthen community capacity and improve responses to mental health needs among individuals and families new to the community.

DBHDS works to connect community members to services by:

• Providing outreach and education in multiple languages, including Arabic, Somali, and Spanish
• Developing campaigns that raise awareness of available services
• Hosting community events, such as the Youth and Family Opioid Response Camp
• Offering training and connections to behavioral health resources

These efforts focus on key factors, including reducing social isolation, improving access to services, and strengthening social supports and community partnerships.

Here are a few resources for community members seeking support and services in Virginia: