Wellness

After many journeys and challenges for refugee families to arrive to Fresno, FIRM works hard to strengthen holistic wellness and healing through several key mental health and health navigation programs.

Culturally Based Access/Navigation Services (CBANS)

CBANS is a mental health program that provides linkages, translation, systems navigation, stigma reduction and more for four refugee communities in Fresno County.  The culturally-responsive program includes one-on-one drop-in services, case management, peer support groups, referrals to community resources, regular workshops in Hmong, Lao, Khmer and Arabic languages. Community Health Workers and Peer Support Specialists ensure that Southeast Asian, Slavic, Syrian and other refugee communities are receiving culturally competent mental health services. This program is funded by Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health using Mental Health Services Act funding.

Consumer Family Advocacy (CFA)

A mental health program that serves the unique needs of individuals and families from the Southeast Asian community.  The program includes one-on-one drop-in services, case management, peer support groups, referrals to community resources, regular workshops in both Hmong and Laotian and home visitations to ensure that the Southeast Asian community is receiving culturally competent mental health prevention and early intervention services. This program is funded by Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health using Mental Health Services Act funding.

Horticultural Therapeutic Community Centers (HTCC)

A mental health program that is our community garden program.  We operate five community gardens throughout Fresno County that serve the Southeast Asian (3 gardens), Slavic (1 garden) and African (1 garden) populations.  Beyond providing gardens to program participants (which leads to increased wellness in refugee communities), this program includes case management, peer support groups, referrals to community resources and much more! This program is funded by Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health using Mental Health Services Act funding. Please contact Program Coordinator, Tony Bounthapanya for more information.

Medi-Cal Enrollment & Support

FIRM assists Hmong and Laotian individuals and families in enrolling into Medi-Cal and supports those who are already enrolled to use their Medi-Cal, selecting doctors, application renewals and other needs as well.  FIRM has enrolled over 1,000 Hmong and Laotian residents in Fresno County who may not have been enrolled otherwise!  Please contact us for more information.

Direct Support

Due to the generous giving of churches and individuals from the community, FIRM is able to provide limited direct support to refugee community members in Fresno. Support services are difficult for grant resources to cover, so these donations make it possible to meet immediate direct needs for Southeast Asian, Ukrainian/Slavic, African and Syrian families (as well as others).

• Clothing, Blankets, Furniture, Household Items
• Emergency Food Assistance
• Case management services
• Transportation (as vehicles are donated to FIRM)
• Other items as needed

If you, your group or church would like to donate items to support direct support for refugee families and individuals, please call FIRM’s main line (559) 487-1500 to see if we have space in our storage for physical donations at this time. If you would like to donate funds, please Donate online or send a check in the mail.