# Resettled Refugee Families for Healing (RRF4H): A Study of the Intergenerational Impact of War Trauma and Resilience

> **NIH NIH K01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $179,419

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Youth from resettled refugee families are at elevated risk of developing serious mental health challenges
compared to their U.S. native peers. Studies have found that refugee youth living in high income countries have
high prevalence of trauma-associated mental disorders like PTSD, (19% to 54%) and depression (3% to 30%).
Additionally, youth belonging to these vulnerable communities have high rates of substance use, school dropout,
incarcerations, violence including gang-related homicides, with suicides emerging as a serious public health
threats. The purpose of this K01 is to provide the candidate with formal training and mentoring in: (1)
systematically adapting and implementing community-based interventions; (2) collection, management, and
analysis of qualitative and mixed methods data; and (3) advanced implementation science research, including
the application of theories and frameworks, methods for identifying and prioritizing implementation determinants,
and systematic approaches to developing and testing implementation strategies. This training will prepare the
candidate for independent research conducting multidisciplinary research that develops and tests community-
based interventions aimed at addressing the myriad of mental health challenges among youth in resettled
refugee communities. Accordingly, the candidate will conduct a type 1hybrid effectiveness-implementation
trial to test a combination intervention designed to improve intergenerational trauma-related mental health
symptoms among second generation refugee children (SGRC). Guided by Social Action and Family Systems
theories, and applying them to the ITT framework, the proposed combination intervention consists of: family
strengthening (FS) model delivered through multiple family groups (MFG) + peer mentoring program called
TeenAge Health Consultants (TAHC) adapted for delivery in virtual environment (Virtual TAHC). The intervention
will have the following specific aims: (1) systematically adapt an evidence-based family strengthening (FS) model
delivered through multiple family groups (MFG) combined with a peer mentoring program (Virtual TAHC) (Goal
1); (2) assess preliminary short- and long-term impact of the combination intervention (MFG + Virtual TAHC) on
behavioral emotional disorders (aggressive behavior, antisocial behaviors, anxiety, depression, and PTSD)
related to intergenerational trauma among SGRC in the trial (Goal 2); and (3) utilizing mixed methods and
applying the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework, examine implementation
strategies, facilitators, and barriers of the RRF4H intervention (Goal 3). Given the transdiagnostic application of
the intervention, this study is significant because it has potential to advance our understanding on how to mitigate
the intergenerational impact of war trauma among children who have not directly experienced war trauma.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10904929
- **Project number:** 5K01MH131872-02
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Nhial Timothy Tutlam
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $179,419
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-10 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10904929

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10904929, Resettled Refugee Families for Healing (RRF4H): A Study of the Intergenerational Impact of War Trauma and Resilience (5K01MH131872-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10904929. Licensed CC0.

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