Insights for Clinical Providers and Community Leaders: Unaccompanied Immigrant Children’s Mental Health Includes Caregiver Support

IF 1.4 4区医学 Q2 SOCIAL WORK

Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal Pub Date : 2024-09-06 DOI:10.1007/s10560-024-00980-1

Johanna Creswell Báez, Padma Swamy, Adriana Gutierrez, Ana Ortiz-Mejias, Jacquelyn Othon, Nohemi Garcia Roberts, Sanghamitra Misra

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Abstract

The numbers of unaccompanied immigrant children (UCs) seeking asylum in the United States (U.S.) has grown dramatically in the last couple of years. However, there is limited research on the lived experiences and mental health needs of caregivers who support UCs throughout the process of integrating into their new lives in the U.S. This study explores the lived experience and mental health needs of UCs and their caregivers with the goal of guiding best practices for community providers. This qualitative action research study included interviewing UCs, their caregivers, healthcare professionals, mental health providers, and community leaders in Houston, Texas (N = 36). Seven key themes emerged highlighting the comprehensive needs of UCs in the community, the prioritization of legal support over health needs, and the unique cultural and developmental challenges UCs face. Caregivers’ narratives underscored their critical role in supporting UCs, marked by financial strain, guilt, and the struggle to provide a secure and nurturing environment amidst post-migration challenges. This research underscores the urgency for holistic, culturally attuned, and trauma-informed community services that address both UCs and their caregivers’ needs.

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对临床医疗工作者和社区领导者的启示：孤身移民儿童的心理健康包括护理人员的支持

过去几年中，在美国寻求庇护的孤身移民儿童（UCs）人数急剧增加。本研究探讨了孤身移民及其照顾者的生活经历和心理健康需求，旨在为社区提供者的最佳实践提供指导。这项定性行动研究包括采访得克萨斯州休斯顿的 UC、他们的照顾者、医疗保健专业人员、心理健康服务提供者和社区领袖（36 人）。研究提出了七个关键主题，强调了社区中 UC 的综合需求、法律支持优先于健康需求，以及 UC 面临的独特文化和发展挑战。照顾者的叙述强调了他们在支持 UCs 方面的关键作用，其特点是经济压力、内疚以及在移民后的挑战中努力提供一个安全和养育环境。这项研究强调，当务之急是提供全面的、与文化相适应的、以心理创伤为基础的社区服务，以满足 UC 及其照顾者的需求。

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来源期刊

Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal SOCIAL WORK-

CiteScore

3.90

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal (CASW) features original articles that focus on social work practice with children, adolescents, and their families. Topics include issues affecting a variety of specific populations in special settings. CASW welcomes a range of scholarly contributions focused on children and adolescents, including theoretical papers, narrative case studies, historical analyses, traditional reviews of the literature, descriptive studies, single-system research designs, correlational investigations, methodological works, pre-experimental, quasi-experimental and experimental evaluations, meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Manuscripts involving qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods are welcome to be submitted, as are papers grounded in one or more theoretical orientations, or those that are not based on any formal theory. CASW values different disciplines and interdisciplinary work that informs social work practice and policy. Authors from public health, nursing, psychology, sociology, and other disciplines are encouraged to submit manuscripts. All manuscripts should include specific implications for social work policy and practice with children and adolescents. Appropriate fields of practice include interpersonal practice, small groups, families, organizations, communities, policy practice, nationally-oriented work, and international studies. Authors considering publication in CASW should review the following editorial: Schelbe, L., & Thyer, B. A. (2019). Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal Editorial Policy: Guidelines for Authors. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 36, 75-80.