Abstract
Immigrant families in Boston faced significant challenges during the past two-and-a-half years of COVID-19 and engaged in many different collective forms of care, healing, and advocacy. In April 2022, MOIA awarded a total of $70,000 in a six-month pilot program to seven organizations to support community-driven efforts to improve immigrant mental health. This report presents the findings from LZC’s participatory assessment of this mini grants initiative, including key design features from the seven pilot initiatives that could be incorporated into future immigrant mental health programming. We present qualitative and quantitative outcomes related to social integration and cohesion, and resilience and well-being. We end by making recommendations for future multi-sector actions to advance immigrant mental health and well-being, drawing on a new paradigm for community mental health and wellness.
