Category

Unaccompanied Minors Research

Strengthening Services for Unaccompanied Children in U.S. Communities

By | Child Well-Being, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Relief, Language Issues, Research Highlight, Trauma, Unaccompanied Minors, Unaccompanied Minors Research

Strengthening Services for Unaccompanied Children in U.S. Communities

Mark Greenberg, Kylie Grow, Stephanie Heredia, Kira Monin and Essey Workie; Migration Policy Institute (June 2021)

This report reviews federal post-release services for unaccompanied minors and highlights ongoing gaps in meeting these children’s needs. It also provides recommendations for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), state and local governments, and community providers in order to improve outcomes for unaccompanied minors.

Pushed Into Harm’s Way: Forced Returns of Unaccompanied Migrant Children to Danger by the USA and Mexico

By | Child Well-Being, Deportation, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Enforcement, Research Highlight, Unaccompanied Minors, Unaccompanied Minors Research

Pushed Into Harm’s Way: Forced Returns of Unaccompanied Migrant Children to Danger by the USA and Mexico

Amnesty International (June 11, 2021)

This report details the deportations of thousands of unaccompanied minors by both the USA and Mexico without sufficient screenings for the danger and harm these children may encounter, and offers recommendation to both nation’s government to address these issues.

Rapid Evidence Assessment: What Works to Protect Children on the Move

By | Child Well-Being, Highlighted Resources, Immigrant Youth, Research, Research Highlight, Social Work, Unaccompanied Minors, Unaccompanied Minors Research

Rapid Evidence Assessment: What Works to Protect Children on the Move 

UNHCR (July 2020) 

In response to the evidence gap surrounding what does and does not work for migrant and displaced children “on the move” and by reviewing relevant literature, this assessment seeks to answer three questions – what interventions have proven most effective in protecting children, what factors of implementation make these interventions effective or ineffective, and what systems of child protection and social welfare make them effective? 

Care Provider Facilities Described Challenges Addressing Mental Health Needs of Children in HHS Custody

By | Child Well-Being, Family Separation, Highlighted Resources, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Enforcement, Research, Research Highlight, Trauma, Unaccompanied Minors, Unaccompanied Minors Research

Care Provider Facilities Described Challenges Addressing Mental Health Needs of Children in HHS Custody

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (September 2019)

A report released by the Office of the Inspector General confirmed that intense trauma was common among children who entered the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) facilities in 2018 including those who were suddenly separated from their parents.

Children as Bait: Impacts of the ORR-DHS Information-Sharing Agreement

By | Immigrant Youth, Legal/Law, Research, Research Highlight, Unaccompanied Minors, Unaccompanied Minors Research

Children as Bait: Impacts of the ORR-DHS Information-Sharing Agreement

Women’s Refugee Commission, National Immigrant Justice Center, Washington College of Law (March 26, 2019)

This report reviews the potential impacts of the new Memorandum of Agreement between the HHS and DHS to share information about unaccompanied children in government custody and their prospective sponsors. The report evaluates findings from a survey of individuals involved in the sponsorship application and vetting processes—including attorneys, biometrics technicians and fingerprint specialists, and child advocates—in order to better understand and document the full range of implications of this new MOA.

Separated Children Placed in Office of Refugee Resettlement Care

By | Family Separation, Federal Policy, Highlighted Resources, Immigrant Families Research, Immigrant Youth, Law & Policy, Law/Policy Highlight, Unaccompanied Minors, Unaccompanied Minors Research

Separated Children Placed in Office of Refugee Resettlement Care

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (January 2019)

In response to the potential impact of the “zero-tolerance policy” on vulnerable children and ORR operations, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to determine the number and status of separated children who have entered ORR care. OIG examines challenges that ORR-funded facilities have faced in reunifying separated children.

Running to stand still: Trauma symptoms, coping strategies, and substance use behaviors in unaccompanied migrant youth

By | Child Well-Being, Highlighted Resources, Immigrant Youth, Research, Research Highlight, Trauma, Unaccompanied Minors, Unaccompanied Minors Research

Running to stand still: Trauma symptoms, coping strategies, and substance use behaviors in unaccompanied migrant youth

Jodi Berger Cardoso, Children and Youth Services Review (April 9, 2018)

The current study explores: (a) the frequency of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, suicidal ideation, and substance use, (b) trauma exposure at pre-migration, migration, and post-migration, and (c) how youth may cope with these adversities among unaccompanied migrant youth, with special attention to their implications for health and well-being.

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Undocumented Immigrants and Their Experience with Illegality

By | Child Well-Being, Deportation, Detention, Family Separation, Immigrant Families Research, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Enforcement, Research, Unaccompanied Minors, Unaccompanied Minors Research

Undocumented Immigrants and Their Experience with Illegality

Various Authors, The Russell Sage Foundation (July 2017)

The Russell Sage Foundation published this journal issue, with various articles that examine policy changes and how they have affected the welfare of undocumented immigrants, their families, and their communities.

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Childhood Cut Short: Sexual and Gender-based Violence against Central American Migrant and Refugee Children

By | Child Maltreatment, Immigrant Youth, Research Highlight, Safety, Spanish Resources, Unaccompanied Minors, Unaccompanied Minors Research

Childhood Cut Short: Sexual and Gender-based Violence against Central American Migrant and Refugee Children

KIND (June 7, 2017)

Before and during migration, many unaccompanied children who come to the U.S. have endured violence. This study examines their experiences.

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Unaccompanied Alien Children: An Overview

By | Child Well-Being, ICE, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Enforcement, Immigration Relief, Legal/Law, Research, Resources, Unaccompanied Minors, Unaccompanied Minors Research

Unaccompanied Alien Children: An Overview

William Kandel, Congressional Research Service (January 2017)

This report provides background and scope on the situation of unaccompanied migrant children in the U.S. as well as the current related policy landscape and practice in various government agencies to address this population.

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