From 2023 to 2024, Cornerstone partnered with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), one of the nation’s largest refugee resettlement agencies, to provide culturally responsive mental health support to refugee communities across the United States. In 2024, this partnership expanded significantly, reflecting a growing recognition of the need for accessible, trauma-informed care in the face of ongoing displacement and resettlement challenges.
Through this collaboration, Cornerstone carried out a three-pronged approach:

• Community Workshops: Our trained staff facilitated workshops at IRC offices nationwide, covering a range of topics tailored to the needs of refugee clients.
• One-on-One Intervention Sessions: Refugees seeking individualized mental health support accessed sessions in multiple languages, delivered by our non-clinical, culturally competent team.
• Staff Trainings: We equipped IRC staff with tools to better support refugee clients through a two-part training series grounded in trauma-informed and culturally sensitive practices. Each training included a full-day, in-person module followed by a targeted virtual follow-up.

To measure the impact of this work, the IRC's Data Collection team developed and administered three distinct surveys—one for each program component. The results (see below) reflect an overwhelmingly positive response, reinforcing the value and relevance of Cornerstone’s approach.
As federal funding for refugee services faces cuts and freezes under the current administration, these outcomes underscore the urgent importance of continuing to invest in community-based mental health support that meets refugees where they are—with care, understanding, and cultural humility.
We are proud of what this partnership has achieved and remain committed to advocating for and delivering vital mental health resources in refugee communities nationwide.

Survey Results

1. Client Workshop Surveys

Data was collected from 221 respondents who answered the following questions:

• Would you recommend the Cornerstone workshop to members of your community?
  Yes: 94%
  No: 1%
  Decline to Answer: 5%
  
  
• Did you enjoy the workshop facilitated by Cornerstone?
  Yes: 95.9%
  Mostly Yes: 0.5%
  Neutral: 1.4%
  No: 0.5%
  Decline to Answer: 0.5%
  
  
• Are you more willing to talk to someone about your emotional or mental health because of Cornerstone workshops?
  Yes: 77.8%
  No: 10.4%
  Decline to Answer: 11.8%
  
  

2. One-on-One Intervention Session Surveys

Data was collected from 19 respondents who answered the following questions:

• Are you satisfied with the quality of the services you received from Cornerstone?
  Yes: 89%
  Mostly Yes: 5%
  Neutral: 5%
  Mostly No: 0%
  No: 0%
  
  

• Would you recommend Cornerstone services to others?
  Yes: 89%
  No: 5%
  Prefer Not to Answer: 5%
  
  
• Did the intervention sessions help you achieve any goals?
  Yes: 58%
  Neutral: 32%
  No: 5%
  Prefer Not to Say: 5%

3. Staff Training Surveys

Data was collected from 51 respondents who answered the following questions:

• Respondents who report that as a result of Cornerstone training they have a better understanding of culturally competent and trauma-informed care.
  Strongly Agree: 67%
  Agree: 29%
  Neither Agree nor Disagree: 2%
  Strongly Disagree: 2%

 

• The training program has encouraged me to refer clients to Cornerstone intervention services.
  Strongly Agree: 45%
  Agree: 37%
  Neutral: 16%
  Disagree: 2%
  Strongly Disagree: 0%