Quick Guide to Federal Child Welfare and Immigration Law
by ABA (March 15, 2017)
This document offers a brief overview of law and resources for child welfare attorneys and others who seek options for immigrant children or parents.
Get the GuideTranslating “Best Interests”: Child Welfare Decisions at the US–México Border
Naomi Glenn-Levin Rodriguez, Political and Legal Anthropology Review (Sept 2016)
The “best interest” principle is examined as effects judicial decisions affecting children. (Link provides abstract only without institutional or paid access.)
Read the AbstractImmigrant and Refugee Children: A Guide for Educators and School Support Staff
United We Dream’s Dream Educational Empowerment Program, National Immigration Law Center, First Focus, American Federation of Teachers (2016)
This guide gives practical advice to educators and school support staff that can inform their actions and be shared with immigrant families.
Get the GuideImmigration Status and Relief Options
A Social Worker’s Toolkit for Working With Immigrant Families
(Updated June 2015)
This toolkit provides a basic overview of the dynamics of the U.S. immigration system as it impacts children and families in the child welfare system. The toolkit includes practical appendices with resources for accessing vital documents, facilitating communication between child welfare and immigration legal counsel, and a summary of immigration relief options applicable to youth in care.
Get the ToolkitWhat Kind of Welcome? Integration of Central American Unaccompanied Children into Local Communities
Elżbieta M. Goździak, Director of Research, Institute for the Study of International Migration at Georgetown University (February 2015)
A report on the history and current reality of child migration as well as implications for working with these populations and for future research.
Read Full ReportCase Planning and Service Delivery for Families with Parents and Legal Guardians Who Are Detained or Deported By Immigration Enforcement
Information Memorandum
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (February 2015)
This Memorandum provides information to child welfare practitioners, including information on best practice considerations, to assist them in addressing the needs of children and families where parents are at risk of, or are, being detained or deported.
Read the full textHealing the Damage: Trauma and Immigrant Families in the Child Welfare System
A Social Worker’s Toolkit for Working With Immigrant Families
(Updated February 2015)
This toolkit provides public child welfare and community-based agencies working with immigrant families guidelines for integrating child welfare practice – from engagement to case closure – with trauma-informed care and trauma-specific services. In addition, the tool kit describes strategies to build an organization’s capacity to better respond to the needs of immigrant families exposed to child maltreatment, domestic and community violence, and other traumatic stresses.
Get the ToolkitFOCUS: Issue on Kinship Care
Foster Family-based Treatment Association (Winter 2014)
This issue of FOCUS covers a range of kinship care topics including the benefits associated with kinship placement, program models for delivering kinship care services, and strategies for overcoming barriers to kinship placement with immigrant families.
Read the full textRefugee and Migrant Children: A Philanthropic Imperative
Grant Makers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (October 2014)
A YouTube video featuring the stories of three children of the tens of thousands who have been forced to flee Central America due to violence.
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FACT SHEET: Education Services for Immigrant Children and Those Recently Arrived to the United States
U.S. Department of Education (September 2014)
A Fact sheet that provides information to help education leaders better understand the responsibilities of States Local Education Agencies in connection with migrant students and the existing resources available to help educate immigrant students.
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