Our mission

The Refugee & Immigrant Mental Health Coalition of Ohio (RIMHCO) is a collaborative effort of refugee and immigrant-serving organizations, healthcare providers, and community stakeholders. The mission of RIMHCO is to promote effective mental health services in Ohio through shared knowledge and community empowerment.

Our Vision for Change

Our vision is to direct both refugee and immigrant communities and service providers towards accessible, quality, culturally-responsive mental health and counseling services.

Our Guiding Values

  • We strive to develop the skills of cultural competence while also placing greater emphasis on the lifelong nurturing of cultural humility.

  • We recognize that refugees and immigrants have unique experiences and standard practices may not be sufficient and require innovation, flexibility, and creativity.

  • We value and prioritize the voice of community members, recognizing that there are multiple indigenous, religious and diverse cultural expressions of healing and wellbeing that differ from traditional western medicine.

  • We work together and actively look for partners to strengthen mental health services for refugees and immigrants in Ohio.

  • We advocate for fair and equal access to mental health resources and knowledge for refugees and immigrants.

2026 Leadership Team

Jess Fannin, BS, MS, RA
Community Team

Erika Hernandez-Sanchez

Erika Hernandez-Sanchez, MBA
Community Team

Fatimah Masood, MPH, LSW
Provider Team

Lillian Mendieta, Esq
Provider Team

Janai Troutman, MSW, LSW
Community Team Lead

Maryan Dualle, BS, MPH
Provider Team

Danya Hamad, Esq
Community Team

Amanda Epting, MSW, LISW-S
Provider Team

Kyri Shaffer

Kyri Shaffer, IMFT-S
Coalition Coordinator
Provider Team Lead

Varsha Irvathraya

Varsha Irvathraya
Community Team

Sharmily Ambroise

Sharmily Ambroise
Community Team

Want to join RIMHCO?

The mission of RIMHCO is only possible because of its members, who generously volunteer their time, skills, and lived experiences. Anyone is welcome to join RIMHCO, either in a leadership role on our Core Team or as a General Member.

If you’re interested in becoming part of our community, please complete our admission form!

Join RIMHCO