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Policy & Advocacy

The IFMHA Program focuses on the intersection of immigration policy and mental health and how to better integrate policy and advocacy skills into clinical psychology training. Our work aims to translate research and data into actionable steps. Dr. Rusch has a longstanding commitment to participating in local, state, and national advocacy efforts to support immigrant communities. Trainees across undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral training receive mentorship on the role of psychologists and health providers in advocacy.

 

Immigration policy updates, clinical resources, and guides for dissemination focus on providing information to help providers understand policies and their impact on mental health. The goal is to increase responsiveness across clinical, educational and research settings. These resources are shared within Chicago and Illinois, and through listservs to allow reach to other local and state contexts.

IFMHA Program Policy Updates

Linked below is a collection documenting past policy and community updates shared by the IFMHA Program. These statements reflect the social, political, and public health contexts impacting immigrant families at the time.

Recent Updates

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IFMHA Program's July 2026 Policy Update summarizes recent scale of immigration enforcement, highlights research on the adverse impacts of immigration enforcement on public health, and provides guidance on how providers can help mitigate these impacts through informed, supportive care.

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Click on the image for full version of policy update. 

IFMHA Program TPS Jul2026

IFMHA Program's June 2026 policy update discusses the changes in Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The changes include June 2026 SCOTUS ruling and other terminations since 2025. 

Click on the image for full version of policy update. 

IFMHA Program's April 2026 policy update discusses the changes in SNAP benefit eligibility beginning May 1, 2026. The changes include work reporting requirements and immigrant eligibility. 

Click on the image for full version of policy update. 

About Policy & Advocacy Workgroup

Dr. Rusch is currently an Advisory Committee Member for Coalition for Immigrant Mental Health (CIMH). She was a founding member of the CIMH and served as Co-Chair of the Policy and Advocacy Workgroup from 2020-2025. 

CIMH Policy and Advocacy Workgroup Archives

Public Comments

​The formal public comment period is an important advocacy tool for researchers and clinicians to participate in the federal rulemaking process with expertise on the public health impact of a specific Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). ​

As Director of the IFMHA Program, Dr. Rusch has submitted nearly 20 public comments to the Federal Registrar summarizing the negative public health and psychological impact of proposed policy changes. 

  2025​

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  • US Department of Health and Human Services Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) Interpretation of “Federal Public Benefit”​

  • Division of Unaccompanied Children Policy, Unaccompanied Children Bureau, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services. Interim Rule “Unaccompanied Children Program Foundation Rule: Update to Accord with Statutory Requirements”

  • US Department of Homeland Security and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on the Interim Final Rule “Alien Registration Form and Evidence of Registration” (RIN 1615-AC96)

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2021-2022​

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  • E-mail to US Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Secretary in opposition to the expansion of “Influx Care Facilities (ICF)” for children.

  • US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Identifying Recommendations to Support the Work of the Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families (DHS-2021-0051)​

  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS) New Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program Regulations. Co-authored the Coalition for Immigrant Mental Health’s sign-on letter that was submitted to the federal registrar with 23 organizations and 38 individuals in support of recommendations to fortify the DACA program.

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2020​​​

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  • US Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) Sponsor Affidavit Requirements

  •  DHS/USCIS J, H, and I Visa Eligibility

  • USCIS and Department of Justice Asylum Ban during Covid-19 Pandemic

  • Jointly filed Asylum Rule Change (*1 clinical and 1 research comment submitted)

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2018-2019​​

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  • USCIS Proposed Application Fee Increases

  • Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Subsidized Housing Eligibility (June 2019)

  • USCIS Proposed Community “tip form”

  • Social Security Administration (SSA) Social Security Disability Insurance Eligibility​​

  • US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Eligibility

  • USCIS Determination of Public Charge

  • DHS and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Flores Settlement Agreement implementation guidelines

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