Navigating Organizational Challenges and Formal Support for Afghan Refugee Women in California Amid Covid-19 and the Taliban's Takeover

Afghan refugee women in the United States are facing mental health challenges due to COVID-19 and the 2021 Taliban takeover. Given the key role of formal support in refugees' mental health, in this study we examined the effectiveness, barriers, and facilitators of formal support from governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) by interviewing 34 Afghan refugee women and 18 refugee service providers in California. Results indicated sufficient formal support was received by women in areas like food/grocery assistance, COVID-related programs, financial aid, and referral services. However, gaps were identified in areas like support for empowerment (e.g., literacy support), support for social integration (e.g., community centers), stress mitigation and coping support (e.g., domestic violence programs), informational support (e.g., informational workshops) and instrumental support (e.g., occupational skills training). Although barriers like inefficient policies, cultural and language barriers, patriarchal norms, and limited funding negatively impact the effectiveness of formal support to women, facilitators such as increased political attention, contributions of religious communities, and strengthened NGO relationships with local providers could enhance these services. We concluded that while Afghan women's immediate needs were relatively addressed, long-term, culturally competent approaches are required for their integration and well-being, suggesting NGOs focus on cultural competence, communication, capacity building, sustainability, and collaboration.