One way that Welcome Neighbor STL helps to support refugee families is by embracing our refugee mothers specifically.

Helping mothers is a key element in supporting our incoming refugee families as a whole. As primary caretakers, mothers’ mental wellness greatly impacts children’s adjustment and mental wellness, as well as their likelihood of future mental health struggles. Supporting mothers socially, mentally, and emotionally as well as connecting them to necessary resources and supporting them in their mothering role helps set a stable foundation for the entire family’s wellness.

Jillayna Adamson, MA, LPC, LMHC, of Bright Tribe Therapy and Wellness is the creator and clinician running the Welcome Neighbors Mothers Group. Jillayna (Jill-anna) is a psychotherapist in St. Louis with a background in Psychology and Anthropology. She specializes in trauma and cross-cultural mental wellness in women/mothers, as well as children.  She is in private practice and is passionate about connecting with and empowering fellow moms through Welcome Neighbor’s mama group!

The group meets every other Friday and is designed for Pashto or Dari-speaking Afghan refugee mothers.