Press

The Benedictine Health Foundation sponsored a professional-education workshop for healthcare and human-services providers Friday, educating them about a widespread but little-understood secret suffering many immigrants experience called “migratory mourning”. More than 80 psychotherapists, licensed clinical social workers, substance-abuse counselors, case managers and other professionals who work with immigrants participated in the daylong event at HealthAlliance Hospital: Mary’s Avenue Campus.

Migratory mourning expert Maria Elena Ferrer, executive director of the Humanamente human services organization, facilitated the workshop. HealthAlliance President and CEO David Scarpino thanked the Foundation for generously sponsoring the workshop. In opening remarks, he also said the workshop was important in increasing compassionate healthcare for immigrant patients. He also said the workshop had special meaning to him as a second-generation Italian.

The event was endorsed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health as supporting the office’s goal to raise awareness of health disparities that affect minorities and to accelerate health equity.

To view photos from the workshop, please click here.