On May 5, the Parnes Clinic at Yeshiva University welcomed 60 migrant and asylum-seeking teenagers to its first Bronx Community Resources Event. Local organizations, such as Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Center for Family Life, were on hand to help attendees access key services ranging from health insurance to academic support. 

The centerpiece of the event included two guest speakers (from Guinea and Venezuela respectively) who shared their experiences seeking asylum in the U.S. and moderated a conversation among participants about the unique struggles of coming to a new country, navigating new systems, speaking a new language, and facing adversity such as bullying in schools. With the safe space created at the Parnes Clinic, participants supported each other and brainstormed best ways to overcome these challenges.

In addition to shared community, the event connected asylum seekers with valuable resources, including health insurance, social services, legal services, academic support, and professional guidance accessible to this vulnerable community. Partnering organizations include the New York Public Library, K.I.N.D (Kids In Need of Defense), Center for Family Life, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance, as well as the vital counseling resources available at the Parnes Clinic.

As the training clinic for YU’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Parnes offers affordable mental health services through several programs, including the Asylum Project which provides mental health counseling and psychological evaluations to support asylum seekers' legal cases. Produced by Shira Levy, a PsyD student at Ferkauf, the event is an outgrowth of her work as a Sacks-Herenstein Impact Scholar and underscores the Parnes Clinic's ongoing commitment to serving the Bronx community.

“Through putting together this event, I spoke to dozens of non-profit organizations and learned about the good work folks in New York City are doing to help underserved communities,” said Shira Levy. “I also learned that those communities do not always know about the many resources available to them. This event worked to bridge that gap and make valuable resources accessible to those who need them most. I am proud of the work we did to benefit this community and look forward to growing our reach and service to other asylum seekers in New York.”

“This was the wonderful event for us,” said William Salton, Director of the Parnes Clinic. “We spent so many years devoting so much of our time to immigrants and asylum seekers, and to see 60 teens show up, teaching each other and supporting each other…it was just a great afternoon. It was a really effective way to let them know that support and help is available. We hope that more events like this will follow so that Parnes can bring even more benefits to the community.”