Between protection and exclusion: Separated child migrants' care relationships and caring practices

这个项目的希望在于产生知识，分析并提供解决我们这个时代最大的全球挑战之一的方法：受跨国流离失所和移徙影响的儿童的照顾和福祉。它将从看护不一定局限于成年人或国家的前提出发，为英国离散移民儿童的看护提供见解。我们的试点研究表明，失散的移民儿童在移民和定居的挑战中生存下来的关键途径是通过他们提供和接受其他移民儿童的照顾。该项目采用创造性的研究方法，旨在让失散的流动儿童和成年利益相关者反思他们对护理的理解和经验，该项目不仅将指出“系统中的裂缝”（Rosen等人，2017），还将提供关于什么是良好做法以及如何发展这种做法的见解。该项目的背景是，全球有6560多万人流离失所，其中许多是儿童。虽然有些人与成年家庭成员一起迁移，但在迁移过程中与主要照顾者分离的人数急剧上升（Unicef, 2016）。在法律和政策背景下通常被称为“无人陪伴的未成年人”，我们使用“失散儿童移民”一词来强调许多儿童在移民过程的不同阶段保持跨国关系或与父母团聚，并且通常由其他亲属和非亲属的成人和儿童陪同（Rosen，即将出版）。当被拆散的移民儿童抵达英国时，他们面临着相互矛盾的待遇。他们作为“儿童”受到保护，并享有与所有其他儿童一样的受照顾权利。但是，由于他们的“移民”身份，他们经常被视为“可疑”并被排除在福利提供之外（Crafter，即将出版）。先前的研究强调，移民控制和保护之间的紧张关系导致了对失散移民儿童的照料质量的显著差异。关于被拆散的移民儿童的新政策和指导，既回应了英国处理这些紧张关系的方式，也改变了这种方式，迄今为止，后果尚不清楚。无论如何，他们没有考虑到孩子们对彼此的照顾。人们对失散儿童在相互矛盾、复杂、多变的移民和福利体系中相互照顾的情况知之甚少。我们也不知道相关的成人利益相关者，包括社会工作者、寄养照料者、教育工作者、青年工作者、宗教领袖、法律专业人士和政策制定者，是如何理解和对待失散儿童相互照顾的。我们的试点研究表明，这种忽视意味着，旨在支持失散儿童移民的政策和做法最终可能会伤害、排斥或歧视他们。例如，互相照顾的孩子可能会被强行分开寄养，在试图团聚时“失踪”，或者他们的“孩子”身份受到质疑。因此，该项目进行了必要且及时的干预。本研究以失散儿童为中心，提出了这样一个问题：失散儿童移民在照顾和照顾他人方面的经历是什么？各种经济、社会和政治因素如何影响相关利益攸关方的护理优先事项？对护理的不同理解和实践的理论、政策和实践含义是什么？该项目由一个多学科研究团队设计，与一系列当地和国家慈善机构合作，包括难民青年和MEENA（伯明翰的移民儿童和妇女），并涉及难民委员会，Coram儿童法律项目和巴纳多咨询小组。这个基础广泛的团队确保该项目将对离散流动儿童的生活产生有意义的影响。

The promise of this project lies in generating knowledge that both analyses and provides ways to address one of the greatest global challenges of our time: the care and well-being of children affected by transnational displacement and migration. It will offer insights into the care of separated migrant children in England, starting from the premise that care is not necessarily limited to that provided by an adult or the state. Our pilot studies demonstrate that a crucial way separated migrant children survive the challenges of migration and settlement is through the care they provide and receive from other migrant children. Using creative research methods designed to involve separated migrant children and adult stakeholders in reflecting on their understandings and experiences of care, this project will not only point to 'cracks in the system' (Rosen et al., 2017) but offer insights into what constitutes good practice and how to develop it.This project sits against the backdrop of the displacement of over 65.6 million people globally, many of whom are children. Whilst some have moved with adult family members, the number who have been separated from primary carers at some point during their migration journeys has risen dramatically (Unicef, 2016). Often referred to as 'unaccompanied minors' in legal and policy contexts, we use the term 'separated child migrants' to highlight that many children maintain transnational relationships or reunite with parents at various points in the migration process, and are often accompanied by other kin and non-kin adults and children (Rosen, forthcoming).When separated migrant children arrive in the UK, they face conflicting treatment. They are protected as 'children' and entitled to the same rights to care as all other children. But, they are often treated as 'suspect' and excluded from welfare provision because of their status as 'migrants' (Crafter, forthcoming). Previous research has highlighted that the tension between immigration control and protection has led to significant differences in the quality of care provided for separated migrant children. New policy and guidance about separated migrant children is both responding to and changing the way these tensions are handled in the UK with, as yet, unknown consequences. In any case, they do not take children's care for each other into account.Little is known about separated children's care for each other as they navigate contradictory, complex, and changeable immigration and welfare systems. Nor do we know how separated children's care for each other is understood and treated by relevant adult stakeholders, including social workers, foster carers, educators, youth workers, religious leaders, legal professionals, and policy makers. Our pilot studies indicate this neglect means that policies and practices designed to support separated child migrants can end up harming, excluding or discriminating against them. For instance, children who care for each other may be forcibly separated in foster care placements, go 'missing' trying to reunite, or have their 'child' status questioned.In response, this project makes a needed and timely intervention. Placing separated children at its heart, this study asks: What are separated child migrants' experiences of care and caring for others? How do various economic, social and political factors shape the care priorities of relevant stakeholders? What are the theoretical, policy, and practice implications of varying understandings and practices of care?This project has been designed by a multidisciplinary research team in collaboration with a range of local and national charities including Refugee Youth and MEENA (for migrant children and women in Birmingham), and involves the Refugee Council, Coram Children's Legal Project, and Barnardo's in an Advisory Group. This broad-based team ensures that the project will have meaningful impact on the lives of separated migrant children.