Conducting Tele-Mental Health Assessments for Immigration Cases
Girasol • November 5th • 12pm-2pm CT
This online workshop will review how to conduct mental health assessment and write reports to support immigration relief cases.
Handcuffed, Pushed, and Afraid: Immigrant children share terrifying experiences while in Border Patrol custody
Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project (September 2024)
This report summarizes hundreds of complaints by unaccompanied immigrant children of physical and verbal abuse and lack of hygiene products and medical care while in U.S. Border Patrol custody.
All We Carry Film Screening Recap
Center on Immigration and Child Welfare (October 8, 2024)
On October 8th, 2024, Berkeley Social Welfare and CICW co-hosted a powerful documentary film screening of, All We Carry, directed by Cady Vogue, which follows a family’s extraordinary journey as they flee persecution from narcotraffickers in Honduras and endure months in US detention. Upon release, they are sponsored by a synagogue in Seattle and move into a borrowed beachfront home, all while they await their asylum verdict. Over three years, the family navigates countless life-altering and every-day moments where memory, joy, and grief collide.
CICW Director, Dr Kristina Lovato, moderated a panel discussion in which local social service providers and faith communities shared strategies for advocating for, and promoting, immigrant rights and justice. The panelists included:
- Dr. Allison Tanner, Pastor of Public Witness, Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church
- Cady Voge, Director, Producer, and Cinematographer, All We Carry
- Yuliana Wiser-León, Newcomer Navigation Center Director & Padres Unidos Grants Manager, Eden Church
- Julie McDevitt, Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician, La Clínica de La Raza
Students, faculty, and community members enjoyed this timely discussion on promoting immigrant’s human rights amidst the current socio-political climate.
Fact Focus: Claims that more than 300,000 migrant children are missing lack context
Melissa Goldin, AP News (October 2, 2024)
Recent claims by Republicans that hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied migrant children are missing lack important context.
“Separated”: Film Shows How Trump Tore Immigrant Families Apart, 1,300 Kids Still Alone
Amy Goodman, Democracy Now! (October 4, 2024)
A new documentary Separated depicts the consequences of the Trump administration’s zero tolerance policy, which caused the forced separation of thousands of children from their families.
An American education: Classrooms reshaped by record migrant arrivals
Ted Hesson, Kristina Cooke and M.B. Pell, Reuters (October 5, 2024)
The growing number of arrivals of school-age immigrant children has caused challenges for some school districts, including related to budgets and language access.
Immigrants brought to the US as children ask judges to keep protections against deportation
Kevin McGill & Jack Brook, AP News (October 10, 2024)
Three appellate judges heard arguments over the DACA program in a federal court in New Orleans.
Parenting as an immigrant can be challenging. A new program helps tackle the stress.
Sheila Mulrooney Eldred, Sahan Journal (October 15, 2024)
A new Minnesota program aims to help immigrant parents navigate challenging child behavioral issues.
Immigrant advocates: Unaccompanied migrants from Africa, Middle East face discrimination in federal shelters
Gustavo Solis, KPBS (October 15, 2024)
Immigrant advocates raise concerns of inadequate care and discrimination against unaccompanied children from Africa and the Middle East while in ORR custody.
More States Expanding Medicaid/CHIP for Pregnant Women, Including Immigrants
Tanesha Mondestin, Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Children and Families (October 15, 2024)
A 2024 survey of Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal Policies reveals expansions in maternal health coverage, including for immigrant women.
Debunking the myth: Who pays for educating unaccompanied minors in public schools?
Sneha Puri, Niskanen Center (October 24, 2024)
This analysis reviews costs related to providing public education to unaccompanied minors, and common myths and misunderstanding.
Migrant families separated under Trump still feel fallout, fear his return
Associated Press, VOA News (October 27, 2024)
A youth who was separated from his family as a result of the Trump administration’s zero tolerance policy speaks out about the lasting impacts.
Trump vows to deport millions. Would it mean family separations?
Cecilia Vega, Camilo Montoya-Galvez, Aliza Chasan, Andy Court & Annabelle Hanflig; CBS News (October 27, 2024)
Trump has promised to deport millions of undocumented immigrants if reelected – authors explore how this might impact mixed-status families.
Learning Brief: Serving Diverse Refugee & Immigrant Youth & Young Adult (YYA) Populations
International Rescue Committee (September 25, 2024)
This learning brief for service providers working with youth and young adult (YYA) immigrants reviews YYA experiences, immigration statuses and opportunities, and best practices for creating culturally and linguistically accessible programs.
Self-Care for Advocates Working with Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth
Children’s Immigration Law Academy, American Bar Association (October 10, 2024)
This resource reviews self-care practices for advocates and professionals working with unaccompanied immigrant youth.
Analysis and Recommendations Relating to August 2024 DHS IG Report on Unaccompanied Children
Kids in Need of Defense (August 2024)
This resource analyzes the August 2024 DHS IG Report on Unaccompanied Children and provides recommendations for ORR to improve support of UCs.
Explainer: Immigrants and the Use of Public Benefits in the United States
Valerie Lacarte, Migration Policy Institute (October 2024)
This explainer reviews access and restrictions to public benefits for immigrants.
Insights for clinical providers and community leaders: Unaccompanied immigrant children’s mental health includes caregiver support
Johanna Creswell Báez et al., Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal (September 6, 2024)
This study interviewed UCs, their caregivers, healthcare professionals, mental health providers, and community leaders in Houston, Texas to understand the lived experience and mental health needs of UCs and their caregivers.
Barriers and bridges to well-being for Latinx immigrant youth in a new Latinx destination: A digital narrative inquiry
Jenn Lilly, Children and Youth Services Review (May 2024)
This study examined barriers and facilitators to Latinx immigrant youth wellbeing via a digital narrative research project.
Emerging Poverty Scholars Fellowship Awarded to CICW Director
Center on Immigration & Child Welfare (September 2024)
CICW Director, Dr. Kristina Lovato has been awarded a two-year fellowship from the Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP)’s Emerging Poverty Scholars Fellowship program 2024-2026 and will be expand her research on mental health and social service access among unaccompanied immigrant transitional age youth (TAY) to also examine social and economic mobility among this population to better serve their needs.
