Finding Support: Resources for Newcomer Families
Notes de l’épisode
Season 2 Episode 11
What makes a place feel like home? For newcomer families, building a life in a new country can mean navigating unfamiliar systems, finding community, and balancing cultural traditions while raising children. And as Dr. Tasmia Hai reminds us in this episode, sometimes home is more of a feeling than a place.
This is You’re Doing It Right , a parenting podcast about the real, messy, beautiful work of raising a family. Hosted by clinical psychologists Dr. Leslie Roos and Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen, two moms who study family life for a living and are living it themselves.
In this episode, Leslie and Lianne are joined by Dr. Tasmia Hai, Clinical Child Psychologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba, to explore the experiences of newcomer families. Together, they discuss navigating cultural differences, building support networks, supporting children's wellbeing, and finding a sense of belonging while creating a new life in a new country.
About the Podcast
Parenting is one of life's greatest joys, and one of the greatest challenges. Every day brings new questions, and every family is different.
You’re Doing It Right is a parenting podcast hosted by acclaimed clinical psychologists Dr. Leslie Roos and Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen, it’s where science meets real life. Leslie and Lianne are researchers, clinicians, and parents themselves, bringing honest, evidence-informed conversations to the everyday questions families face - no judgment, no single "right" way, just practical support for real life.
Each episode combines the latest research, expert guests, and practical strategies to help parents navigate everyday challenges with greater confidence and less stress.
At the heart of the podcast is a simple belief: parenting was never meant to be done alone. The goal is to provide trusted information, compassionate support, and practical tools that help families thrive.
Because parenting isn't about perfection - it's about showing up, learning as you go, and remembering that you're doing better than you think.
Subscribe and join us each week for conversations that remind parents, in more ways than they realize, they're doing it right.
About the Hosts
Dr. Leslie Roos
Dr. Leslie Roos is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of children, youth, and families.
As a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Chair in Implementation Science and co-lead of the PRIME Initiative (Partnering for Research Innovation in Mental Health through eHealth Excellence), she leads innovative research that expands access to evidence-based mental health care for families.
Dr. Roos is also the co-developer of the BEAM program, an accessible digital mental health program designed to support both parents and children through peer connection, coaching, and evidence-based resources.
Her research focuses on family mental health, early childhood development, mental health equity, and community-based approaches that translate scientific evidence into practical strategies parents can use every day.
Through her research, clinical work, and commitment to knowledge sharing, Dr. Roos helps families navigate parenting with confidence, compassion, and evidence-based support.
Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen
Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen is a psychologist, researcher, and professor whose work focuses on supporting the mental health and well-being of parents, children, and families.
She is the Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Equity at the University of British Columbia and co-leads several nationally recognized research initiatives, including the Pregnancy During the Pandemic study and the BEAM (Building Emotional Awareness and Mental Health) program.
Her research explores how family relationships, sleep, and mental health shape child development, with a focus on creating practical, evidence-based solutions that improve outcomes for families.
Drawing on extensive clinical experience in mindfulness, self-compassion, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and emotionally focused interventions, Dr. Tomfohr-Madsen brings a compassionate, research-informed perspective to the realities of parenting.
She is passionate about translating leading-edge research into practical tools that help families build resilience, connection, and well-being.
Guest Expert - Dr. Tasmia Hai
Dr. Tasmia Hai works with a variety of mental health and neurodevelopmental concerns, including anxiety, mood issues, emotion dysregulation, learning disabilities, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). She provides therapeutic services and complete psychological/psychoeducational assessments using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectic Behaviour therapy along with Client Centered approaches to create the ideal treatment program to meet the specific needs of children and their family.
She holds a Ph.D. in School and Clinical Child Psychology from the University of Alberta. Has a clinical practice, and is a researcher specializing in understanding neurobiological impact of different neurodevelopmental disorders including ADHD. I am also an active educator, having taught courses related to developmental psychopathology and educational assessment.
Resources & Links
The Health Of Canada’s Young People
Social Media Clips
Instagram - Where Newcomers Belong
CBC Program to Improve Newcomer Health
Next Episode
Next time we connect with Dr. Emily Cameron and dive into Happy Holidays - a discussion on how to lower stress as we parent through holidays. Until then, this is You’re Doing It Right .