Immigrant / Refugee Marriage Mentoring: 12 Conversations
The Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is very concerned about the health and stability of refugee and immigrant marriages. Coming to this country places numerous additional stresses of adjustment on a couple in their marriage. Extended family issues, cultural adaptation, finances, language, employment, friendships, children, education, holidays, and transportation only begin to list the areas of adjustment.
In an immigrant / refugee community, healthy couples who are successfully adapting to this new land are identified and trained to become mentors for newly arriving couples. It is out of their stories from the Twelve Conversations program that they are able to share their experiences, challenges, and resilience. The goal is to welcome them and encourage the new couple in their adjustments to America, supporting them in keeping their marriage strong.
Marriage Mentoring: 12 Conversations is the mentoring program in a five-year grant from the ORR and the Administration for Children and Families to provide this service to these new arriving couples to America. A special edition of Marriage Mentoring: 12 Conversations has been written with sensitivity to the particular issues that these couples face.
Encouraging stories from those who already know the culture of the new arrivals and are themselves succeeding in this country make ideal mentors. For more information about this program, contact Dr. Edward Gray at Harding University Graduate School 901-681-9200 or email: egray@harding.edu.
