Unaccompanied immigrant children in long term foster care: Identifying needs and best practices from a child welfare perspective
Unaccompanied immigrant children in long term foster care: Identifying needs and best practices from a child welfare perspective
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DOI：
10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.12.017
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发表时间：
2018-09-01
影响因子：
3.3
通讯作者：
Underwood, Dawnya
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Crea, Thomas M.;Lopez, Anayeli;Underwood, Dawnya
近年来，从中美洲移民到美国的无人陪伴儿童数量急剧增加，多达35%的儿童最终被安置在联邦难民安置办公室（ORR）的长期寄养中心（LTFC）。然而，研究文献在很大程度上对这些儿童在护理期间的独特需求保持沉默，或者从业者如何最好地应对这些需求。目前的定性研究旨在解决这些差距，研究数据来自两个为LTFC中无人陪伴儿童服务的大型组织的22个焦点小组，其中包括专业人员和养父母（n = 79）。数据分析遵循开放和轴向编码的扎根理论方法来开发主题。受照料儿童最迫切的需要包括为青年获得适当和稳定的寄养安置；促进社区内的联系；确保适当的教育和独立的生活技能；适应困难；创伤和心理健康问题；以及与法律地位相关的问题。目前解决这些问题的战略包括支持有文化能力的寄养安置；提供英语培训；促进社区关系，如导师；提供健康和健康相关的服务。今后的研究和实践应特别关注教育系统中最边缘化的青年，特别是缺乏语言技能和正规教育的青年。在实践中，需要提供文化上适当的、创伤知情的护理，也需要建立文化上有效的创伤评估。在无人陪伴的青少年融入美国社会的过程中，我们可以做更多的工作，让社区意识到他们的独特需求和优势。对于这些孩子来说，永久的感觉可能需要在当地社区建立牢固的关系，这可以帮助他们在离开寄养后维持下去。
The numbers of unaccompanied children immigrating to the U.S. from Central America have increased drastically in recent years, and as many as 35% are eventually placed in long term foster care (LTFC) while in the custody of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Yet, the research literature has been largely silent on the unique needs of these children while in care, or how practitioners can best respond to these needs. Drawing data from 22 focus groups with professionals and foster parents (n = 79) in two large organizations serving unaccompanied children in LTFC, the current qualitative study is designed to address these gaps. Analysis of data followed a grounded theory approach of open and axial coding to develop themes. The most pressing needs of children in care include securing appropriate and stable foster placements for youth; promoting connections in the community; ensuring adequate education and independent living skills; difficulties with acculturation; trauma and mental health issues; and issues related to legal status. Current strategies to address these issues include supporting culturally competent foster placements; providing English-language training; promoting relationships in the community such as mentors; and providing health and health-related services. Future research and practice should include a specific focus on those youth most marginalized in the education system, particularly those who lack language skills and formal education. The provision of culturally appropriate, trauma-informed care is needed in practice, as is the need to establish culturally valid trauma assessments. More work could be done to sensitize communities to the unique needs and strengths of unaccompanied youth as they integrate into U.S. society. For these children, a sense of permanency will likely entail building strong relationships in their local community that can help sustain them when they leave foster care.