A Community-Defined Approach to Address Trauma Among Cambodian Immigrants and Refugees.

This article focuses on the evaluation of the Community Wellness Program (CWP), a culturally centered, trauma-informed intervention designed to reduce mental health disparities among Cambodian immigrants and refugees in Long Beach and Santa Ana, California. Funded by the California Department of Public Health Office of Health Equity, the CWP incorporated community-defined practices including outreach, educational workshops, strength-based case management, and social and spiritual activities facilitated by bilingual, bicultural Community Health Workers. Using a quasi-experimental stepped wedge waitlist design, the study found that participation in the CWP significantly reduced trauma symptoms over time among older Cambodian adults, a population with high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression linked to the Khmer Rouge genocide. The program’s success highlights the importance of culturally responsive, community-driven approaches to addressing trauma in refugee populations and suggests potential adaptability for other immigrant and refugee groups facing similar mental health challenges.