Refugee Resettlement Through the Lens of Occupational Therapy

Displaced from their homeland and housed in camps around the world, refugees live in hope of resettlement into a place of stability and peace. Although resettlement offers stability, it also creates a condition of occupational deprivation as a refugee steps from their culture into another. Occupational therapy recognizes that engagement in meaningful activities is paramount to sustaining health and well-being, and assists individuals in overcoming hurdles which prevent them from engaging in those activities. This project was created to provide resources for caseworkers and volunteers at World Relief to assist in the process of integrating recently resettled refugees into the community. The resources provided were focused on home and health orientation, community orientation and school orientation. By supporting efficient integration, caseworkers and volunteers can encourage empowerment and support engagement in meaningful occupations to promote health and eliminate the harmful effects of occupational deprivation among refugees