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RSI School Impact & Youth Mentoring Program Statewide Conference

Impact, Partnership, and Future – ARSI & AYM Achievements and Launching RSI & YM Programs 

Overview & Purpose

Join us for a statewide convening bringing together partners, practitioners, and community stakeholders to celebrate the impact of the Afghan Refugee School Impact and Afghan Youth Mentoring (ARSI/AYM) programs and to launch the next phase of the Refugee School Impact (RSI) and Youth Mentoring (YM) programs.

This gathering honors the work, relationships, and lessons that have supported refugee children, youth, and families across California, while creating space to collectively reflect, connect, and shape what comes next.

Hosted by the UC San Diego Center for Community Health’s Refugee and Immigrant Health (RIH) Unit, in collaboration with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) California, San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition (SDRCC), California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health (CIRH), Public Health Institute (PHI), and Refugee and Immigrant Transitions (RIT), the conference centers shared learning across early childhood development, family engagement, mental health and wellbeing, school-age services, and youth mentoring.

Participants will engage in dialogue, reflect on program impact, strengthen statewide partnerships, and contribute to a shared vision for sustainable, community-driven systems of support for refugee children, youth, and families.

Who Should Attend

This convening brings together:

  • 60+ service providers and regional leads from ARSI/AYM and RSI/YM programs

  • Representatives from the California Department of Social Services

  • Partners from the University of California, San Diego 

  • School districts across the state

  • Community-based organizations and stakeholders supporting ORR-eligible refugee youth and families

How many staff per organization should attend?

  • Two representatives from each service provider and school district, and three representatives from each regional lead.

  • UCSD has already booked rooms for all the participants; there is no need for individual bookings.

Program Highlights

  • Community Impact Celebration: Stories, reflections, and lessons learned across regions

  • Youth Panel: Centering youth voice and lived experience

  • Peer Learning Exchange: Sharing strategies and practices across programs

  • Roundtable Discussions: Collaborative problem-solving and dialogue

  • Networking: Strengthening statewide relationships and partnerships

Objectives

  • Honor Program Impact 
    Celebrate achievements, lessons learned, and community outcomes from ARSI/AYM programs.

  • Launch RSI/YM Programs 
    Align partners on goals, structure, and priorities for the next phase.

  • Strengthen Statewide Collaboration 
    Deepen coordination across agencies, school districts, providers, and community partners.

  • Shape a Shared Vision 
    Co-develop a forward-looking roadmap for sustainability and growth.

What to Expect

  • Key insights on program impact and outcomes

  • Stronger statewide partnerships and networks

  • Clarity on the next phase of RSI/YM implementation

  • Opportunities to contribute to long-term strategy and vision

Location & Logistics

  • Venue: Hilton Sacramento Arden West, Ballroom on the ground floor.

  • Time: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

  • Parking is free for all conference participants.

Additional logistics (parking, accessibility, and day-of details) will be shared with invited participants.

Registration

This is an invite-only event. 
Invited participants will receive a personalized RSVP link. There will be no conference fee required. 

Contact

For questions or additional information on this event, please contact:

Hashim Wahdatyar (mwahdatyar@health.ucsd.edu), UC San Diego CCH-RIH Program Lead.

Segen Zeray (szeray@health.ucsd.edu), UC San Diego CCH-RIH Project Manager.

Marie Sophia Saifi (msaifi@ucsd.edu), UC San Diego RIH-CCH MPH Intern.

Join Us

We look forward to coming together in community to celebrate impact, strengthen partnerships, and shape the future of refugee youth and family support programs across California.