Similar to populations impacted by conflict outside of the US, forcibly displaced populations that resettlle in the US are also vulnerable to IPV and poor mental health. However, the majority of IPV prevention intervention research has taken place outside of the US. Existing IPV programming for resettled refugees largely focus on connecting with services once IPV occurs. Promising IPV intervention programs, like EA$E have the potential for reducing IPV and improving mental healh among US-based forcibly displaced populations.  

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Dr. Gupta and her team, in collaboration with IRC and Dr. Karin Wachter at Arizona State University are currently in the process of adapting EA$E for use with forcibly displaced populations in the United States. 

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With funding from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Evidence for Action, the first phase of this work involved conducting adaptation research with theater testing of the EA$E intervention with Congolese, Syrian and Afghanistani refugees in the US. Theater testing was also conducted with US-based IRC staff, along with surveys to ascertain feasibility, acceptability and appropriateness.  The study also generated recommendations for adaptation of the EA$E curriculum. 

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We have recently been awarded a 3-year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (1R34MH139762-01) to develop EA$E-US, and conduct a pilot trial of EA$E-US in Phoenix, Arizona!!! 

 

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