Growing Up With an Undocumented Parent in America: Psychosocial Adversity in Domestically Residing Immigrant Children

There are currently 6 to 7 million children residing in the United States with at least one undocumented parent. These children are living in our communities and are at risk for a number of psychosocial adversities. Such adversities include poverty, cramped living conditions, decreased access to washers and dryers, food insecurity, malnourishment, difficulties with academic achievement, increased risk for learning disabilities, parental loss and separation, decreased access to preschool, lack of social support and family ties in the community, and decreased access to health care, housing, and financial assistance. As such, the children of undocumented parents report higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. This Clinical Perspective includes recommendations for child and adolescent psychiatrists to provide effective care to these children and their families. Topics discussed include inquiring about immigration status, documenting immigration status in medical records, the role of forensic evaluators versus clinical providers, the importance of translation services, family-centered care, trauma-informed care, culturally sensitive care, additional services such as case management, linking families to grass-roots organizations, the location of clinics, and the role of child and adolescent psychiatrists as patient advocates.

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - June 25, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Shawn S. Sidhu, Suzan J. Song Tags: Clinical perspectives Source Type: research