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CICW Attends National Cross-Coalition Convening to Protect Children in Immigrant Families

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CICW Attends National Cross-Coalition Convening to Protect Children in Immigrant Families

On March 24–25, CICW Director Dr. Kristina Lovato and Program Manager Sophia Sepp represented the CICW at Uniting to Meet the Moment: Cross-Coalition Convening to Protect Children in Immigrant Families in Washington, D.C. This powerful event was hosted by the Children Thrive Action Network, Child Care for Every Family Network, Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition, and the Automatic Benefit for Children Coalition.

As we look ahead to a pivotal four-year period—one that is expected to bring intensified policy threats at both federal and state levels—this convening was a timely and urgent call to action. This gathering brought together leaders and advocates working at the intersection of child welfare and immigration to strengthen relationships, build alignment, and strategize for the challenges ahead.

The convening offered a unique opportunity to deepen collaboration across key child-focused and immigrant justice coalitions. Together, participants explored ways to amplify collective advocacy, respond to harmful policies with unity and strength, and advance a bold, pro-immigrant, pro-child agenda—one that centers the health, safety, and well-being of all children, regardless of immigration status.

Kristina and Sophia were proud to join this national effort and are excited to bring back insights, strategies, and new partnerships that will inform CICW’s work in the months and years to come.

Urgent Advocacy Opportunity: Restore Legal Services for Unaccompanied Children

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Urgent Advocacy Opportunity: Restore Legal Services for Unaccompanied Children

The Acacia Center for Justice

On March 21st, the Trump administration terminated funding for legal counsel for 26,000 unaccompanied children, cutting them off from essential legal services and forcing them to represent themselves alone in immigration court. This comes at the same time that the administration moves to increase the deportation and detention of children. You can take action now to protect these vulnerable children by sending a pre-written, customizable letter to your representatives (click link above), calling for the restoration of the Unaccompanied Children Program and legal services for unaccompanied children.

The Impact of Immigration Threat on Educators’ Work and Well-Being in Schools: Insights from Educators

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The Impact of Immigration Threat on Educators’ Work and Well-Being in Schools: Insights from Educators

Foundation for Child Development April 1, 2025 4pm PT/7 pmET

This webinar for educators, school administrators, mental health professionals, and researchers will share insights into how immigration threats impact young students and their families as well as their educators.

CICW Statement on Recent Immigration Executive Actions

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CICW Statement on Recent Immigration Executive Actions

February 3, 2025 — The Center on Immigration and Child Welfare Initiative shares in the collective feelings of anger, frustration, and deep concern in response to the policy actions taken in the first weeks of the Trump presidency. A slew of executive orders and the rescission of protective policies and programs now threaten the safety, wellbeing, and futures of millions of children in immigrant families and other vulnerable communities. These actions do not merely create policy shifts; they instill fear, destabilize families, and inflict lasting trauma on children who deserve stability, dignity, and the right to thrive. Furthermore, these measures severely undermine our collective wellbeing, values, democracy, and identity as a nation of immigrants.

In this moment of uncertainty and hardship, we stand in unwavering solidarity with immigrant children and families, affirming their humanity and rightful place in our communities. We stand resolute and prepared to ensure that child welfare agencies, practitioners, and their partners are informed of their rights and equipped with the tools to mitigate the impending harms to the immigrant children and families they serve. With a steadfast commitment to justice, we will continue to advocate, educate, and mobilize efforts to uphold the fundamental rights and protections that all children deserve.

We reaffirm our dedication to safeguarding the futures of immigrant children and strengthening the systems meant to protect them. We call on our partners, allies, and communities to join us in this urgent fight to uphold the values of equity, compassion, and justice for all children and families.

CICW Research Workgroup: SSWR 29th Annual Conference Recap

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CICW Research Workgroup: SSWR 29th Annual Conference Recap

Society for Social Work & Research (January 15th-19th, 2025)

Members of the CICW Research Workgroup presented the following oral paper, symposium, and roundtable at the SSWR 29th Annual Conference.

CICW Statement in Support of Immigrant Communities Impacted by LA Wildfires

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CICW Statement in Support of Immigrant Communities Impacted by LA Wildfires

January 13, 2025 – The Center on Immigration and Child Welfare Initiative stands in solidarity with those affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, CA, sharing in the collective grief of the individuals and families whose lives have been profoundly impacted. It has been deeply painful to witness the immense trauma Angelenos are enduring as they face evacuations, the loss of homes and livelihoods, and the uncertainty that follows such destruction.

We wish to especially recognize the unique challenges faced by immigrant communities during this crisis. Mixed-status families, children of immigrants, undocumented workers, day laborers, and their communities are navigating compounding vulnerabilities, including housing insecurity, precarious employment, and the fear of seeking emergency services. Many mixed-status families in California may be hesitant to seek assistance due to fears about immigration enforcement. These struggles mirror the challenges and resilience these communities displayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, where immigrants often stood as first responders and frontline workers. Once again, they are demonstrating incredible strength by helping to clean up neighborhoods, rebuild homes, and care for others.

Amid this turmoil, an immigration raid occurred on Wednesday, January 8th in Bakersfield, CA, compounding the distress already felt by these communities. Customs and Border Protection agents conducted a large-scale raid in unmarked SUVs, detaining individuals outside locations such as a Home Depot and a gas station frequented by field workers. This raid—reportedly the first of its scale in California since the election of Donald Trump—took place just one day after Congress certified the presidential election on January 6. The fear and confusion caused by these actions, for both immigrant families and the local businesses that rely on their labor, serve as a stark warning of the potential consequences of policies prioritizing mass deportations.

There are meaningful ways we can support those affected. Below are links to several organizations offering direct assistance to immigrants and their families in Southern California:

CICW Research Workgroup: SSWR 29th Annual Conference Presentations

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CICW Research Workgroup: SSWR 29th Annual Conference Presentations

Members of the CICW Research Workgroup will be presenting the following oral paper, symposium, and roundtable at the SSWR 29th Annual Conference.

Oral Paper: Building the Capacity of Social Service Systems to Serve Unaccompanied Immigrant Transitional Age Youth (TAY) during the Precarious Transition to Adulthood & Illegality

  • Author: Kristina Lovato, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of California, Berkeley, CA
  • Date & Time: Friday, January 17, 2025: 5:30 PM-7:00 PM (PT)
  • Location:Columbia, Level 4 (Sheraton Grand Seattle)

Roundtable: Immigration Policy in the Wake of the 2024 Election: Impacts to Immigrant Communities and Finding a Path Forward

  • Organizer: Kristina Lovato, PhD, University of California, Berkeley
  • Date & Time: Thursday, January 16, 2025: 3:15 PM-4:45 PM (PT)
  • Location: Columbia, Level 4 (Sheraton Grand Seattle)
  • Speakers/Presenters: Tatiana Londoño, MSSW, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles; Kerri Evans, PhD, University of Maryland Baltimore County; Robert Hasson, PhD, Providence College, Wendy Cervantes, Center for Law & Social Policy and Cindy Liou, Esq, Kids in Needs of Defense

Symposium: The Importance of Parents’ Wellbeing, Parenting, and Other Family Practices in the Current Socio-Political Immigration Context

  • Symposium Organizer: Maryam Rafieifar, PhD, University of Texas at Arlington
  • Date & Time: Friday, January 17, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (PT)
  • Location:Seneca, Level 4 (Sheraton Grand Seattle)
  • Discussant:Robin Hernandez-Mekonnen, PhD, Stockton University
  • Presenting Authors:
    1. Tatiana Londono, MSSW, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of California, Los Angeles
      Impact of Migration Trauma Exposure on Parent-Child Relationships Among Families from the Northern Triangle of Central America
    2. Cheryl Aguilar, PhD Candidate, Smith College
      What about the Parents? Exploring the Impact of Immigration Separation and Reunification on the Wellbeing and Sense of Self of Central American Parents
    3. Maryam Rafieifar, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Arlington, Hui Huang, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Texas at Arlington, and Catalina Canizares Escobar, PhD, New York University
      Parenting Stress in Immigrant Families: Roles of Social Support and Household Dynamics
    4. Kelechi Wright, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Houston
      Immigrant Perspectives on the Nature of How Child Welfare Prioritizes Culture and Family
    5. Morgan Pardue-Kim, PhD Candidate; Kerri Evans, PhD, Assistant Professor; Celene Viveros Garces, Research Team Member; and Melissa Edmondson Smith, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Maryland, Baltimore.
      Former Unaccompanied Refugee Minors’ Experiences As Parents: A Collaborative Approach
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