Unaccompanied children migrate to the US from countries all over the world for a number of reasons, including economic, political, environmental, and social factors. These children are often exposed to traumatic experiences, such as loss of or separation from loved ones, sexual assault, and violence, before, during, and after their migration journey. Once children arrive in the US, stressors such as isolation, acculturation, and trauma can add to the many challenges they already face. Providing culturally-responsive trauma-informed care can positively affect quality of life and outcomes for these children, allowing them to heal and thrive in their new environment. The NCTSN offers resources to help mental health providers, child welfare, healthcare providers, and school professionals provide trauma-informed care to unaccompanied children.
Children, Youth, and Families Who Experience Migration-Related Trauma and Family Separation
Offers information on unaccompanied and separated immigrant youth in the US who have experienced migration-related trauma and family separation. This brief includes information about who unaccompanied children are and how many are in the US; how traumatic separation affects immigrant children, youth, families, and systems; and what can be done to assist immigrant children, youth, and families who experience traumatic separation.
Understanding the Mental Health Needs of Unaccompanied Children in the United States
This video provides a brief overview of the mental health needs of unaccompanied children who have experienced significant trauma in their home countries and along their journey to the United States.
Psychological First Aid for Unaccompanied Children
Provides an evidence-informed modular approach to assist unaccompanied children immediately after arriving in the US. This approach includes a set of tools to assist staff in supporting unaccompanied children through early transitions. It is useful for working with unaccompanied children preparing to reunite with family members or transitioning to an Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) permanent program/shelter. This approach can also support staff and volunteers in caring for themselves while engaging in this challenging work.
Trauma-Informed Care for Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth Podcast Series
Features different NCTSN members serving unaccompanied immigrant youth and other forms of migration related separation.
A Socio-Culturally, Linguistically-Responsive, and Trauma-Informed Approach to Mental Health Interpretation
Provides mental health clinicians and professional interpreters with information about a trauma-informed approach to mental health interpretation that is socio-culturally and linguistically- responsive to the needs of children and families receiving services. This resource guide describes frameworks for mental health interpretation, roles in a clinical setting, the interpreter and mental health clinician dyad, how to manage a session that needs interpretation services, secondary traumatic stress, supervision, values and ethics, as well as advocacy for better services for children and families needing interpretation services.
NCTSN Resources Related to Traumatic Separation and Refugee and Immigrant Trauma
Identifies existing NCTSN resources related to traumatic separation, refugee and immigrant trauma, and best practices in trauma-informed care for refugee and immigrant children and families. The list includes fact sheets, webinars, and resource guides, offering information and suggestions for helping refugee and immigrant children who experience traumatic separation from a caregiver, who are unaccompanied when they cross the border into the United States, or who have experienced violence and trauma in their home countries.
Directory of NCTSN Centers and Affiliate Members Serving Immigrant and Refugee Populations
Includes a directory of NCTSN centers and affiliate members serving immigrant and refugee populations organized by state.
NCTSN Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) Supplement Funding Report
Provides an overview of activities of NCTSN grantees who received Fiscal Year 2019 supplement funding to address the needs of unaccompanied alien children and shares lessons learned from working with this population.
Trauma-Informed Care: Understanding and Addressing the Needs of Unaccompanied Children Webinar Series
Covers the impact of trauma on children during all phases of their migration journey. In this webinar series, nationally recognized speakers from NCTSN are joined by experts from the Irving Harris Foundation’s Professional Development Network to provide best practices for culturally responsive and trauma-informed provision of services. This series features diverse expertise from the fields of refugee and migrant health, cultural studies, mental health, early childhood development, childhood traumatic stress, trauma-informed systems of care, and secondary traumatic stress.
Childhood Traumatic Grief Webinar Series
Discusses various topics related to childhood traumatic grief. This webinar series offers information on common reactions after loss, as well as responses that are more severe, prolonged, and interfere with a child's functioning.
Comments (0)