Seattle University Collaborative Projects - International Academy of ...

the armed forces for homeless veterans in order to provide the best care. Building upon theirstrengths attained during their military training and education about conflict resolution andassertiveness are some of the implications emerging from this study.From Welfare to Well-Being: Turning Things Around Among HomelessVeteransWilliam H. Milroy, Veterans Aid, London, UK (ceo@veterans-aid.netJay A. Mancini, The University of Georgia (mancini@uga.edu)The intersections of resilience and vulnerabilities comprise the everyday life of homeless people,are affected by their past experiences, and are predictive of their future prospects. Very ofteninterventions directed at homeless people have more failure than success. However, we contendthat interventions often do not account for the contexts of homeless people’s lives, fail toembrace community capacity to support positive change, and lose sight of the resilience that canbe mobilized, at both an individual and a community level. We present systematic researchevidence, and clinical evidence, that demonstrates these resilience and vulnerabilitiesintersections. These data on the health and well-being of homeless individuals, emanate from anintervention and prevention initiative in East London, one that shuns a welfare approach tomoving individuals from social exclusion to social inclusion, and embraces an approach focusedon well-being. Our change process framework includes four primary elements: gatewayinterventions, unpacking, getting sorted out, and graduation. Within these elements, interventionpractices and processes are described, including “swift” intervention, re-learning life skills,building trust, and transitions to new environments and new ways of viewing everyday life. Bothquantitative and qualitative survey and interview data are presented that speak to contexts andprocesses of change, including self-efficacy, community connections, and rejoining thecommunity; in addition, clinical observations are included to provide case study information onprocesses of moving toward social inclusion.75. Human Rights and Mental Health of Women in the Context ofReligious FreedomThe Intersection of Women’s Rights, Religious Freedom, and Civil LawAnne Benvenuti, Cerro Coso College (anne.benvenuti@gmail.com)This presentation provides an overview of several conflicts related to human rights and religiousfreedom with illustrative examples from around the world and from various religious traditions.Particular focus will be given to instances wherein conflict between religious motives and civillaw impacts the human rights and mental health of women. I will address ways to engage183