Workshops to help newcomers navigate systems and know their rights - plus trainings for the providers who serve them

Community Workshops:
​BRFN organizes virtual and in-person educational workshops for Afghan, Eritrean, and Ethiopian newcomer communities in native language. In-person workshops are hosted at schools, community-based organizations, and senior centers, and aim to educate newly-arrived immigrants to understand US systems, know their rights, make informed decisions, and care for their families and themselves. Since May 2020, we have conducted over 60 workshops covering a wide range of subjects, such as:

• Applying and maintaining your public benefits
• Filing taxes
• Applying for green cards and citizenship
• Obtaining unemployment insurance after losing a job
• Tenants’ and workers’ rights
• Parenting in the US (including child abuse and neglect)
• Financial literacy (credit, bank accounts, taxes, insurance)
• Applying to affordable housing
• Mental health & stress reduction management
• Dental hygiene and accessing dental care
• The science of grief and grieving
• Understanding insurance (health, life, auto, and home)
• Basic digital literacy tools
• Resources for crime victims
• Adult education and applying to community college

We regularly ask our clientele for suggestions on what they would like to learn more about to inform our future workshop topics.

​"BRFN continues to provide valuable information for our immigrant community. They host Zoom meetings where we can ask questions and receive free guidance on immigration updates and essential services in our mother language."
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​-- Client E from Eritrea

Gender-Specific Educational Workshops for Afghans:
In 2024, we expanded our programming to include gender-focused workshops specifically for Afghan clients. BRFN has launched two different workshop themes, one about understanding reproductive health for Afghan women, and another educating Afghan men on strengthening family relationships and preventing gender-based violence. Workshops and services are designed with cultural norms and gender considerations in mind, such as separate gender-based workshops on sensitive topics like reproductive health and gender-based violence awareness.

At BRFN, we know that any approach to the topic of mental or behavioral health is a sensitive one for community members from Afghanistan. We are aware that domestic violence exists in this community, and many suffer from PTSD and generalized stress due to their quick exit from Afghanistan since 2021 and the stresses of adjusting to life in the US. Mental health needs are generally not acknowledged in the Afghan community. This is why we have seen proven success with the launching of our women’s and men’s workshops. These above-mentioned topics enable Afghans to discuss issues in a safe environment, and one in which “mental health issues” are not outwardly named. Given the positive feedback from the community, we will continue offering these workshops to provide ongoing education and support.

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Provider Workshops:
BRFN gives workshops for providers to strengthen their capacity to effectively serve newcomers. Most recently, BRFN has partnered with Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) and San Lorenzo Unified School District (SLZUSD) to provide workshops for educators to build cultural competency in their work with Afghan students. BRFN is considered a “trusted messenger” by many other organizations and funders and thus provides resources and information in native language on such topics as: mental health management, rights and responsibilities in the community, and managing family stress for partners to benefit from. 


If you are a community member in need of help, please visit our Get Help page.  If you’d like to support our work welcoming newcomers, please consider volunteering, donating in-kind supplies, or making a financial contribution.

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