Mitigating the Health Consequences for Youth in Families Affected by Immigration Policy Changes

Abstract

cardiovascular risk reduction over the long term in individuals born preterm should also be formally assessed.In the meantime, physicians caring for adults should routinely inquire about birth history to identify this at-risk popu-lation. Raising awareness among individuals born preterm and their families is equally important to promote healthy lifestyle habits and encourage protective behavioral changes (smoking cessation and reducing sedentary behaviors).

Migration‐related trauma and mental health among migrant children emigrating from Mexico and Central America to the United States: Effects on developmental neurobiology and implications for policy

“…Under specific circumstances, however, ICE and CBP can request patient information (e.g., if there is a viable warrant) or they can carry out immigration‐related actions in public areas of clinics and hospitals such as waiting rooms or parking lots (Artiga & Ubri, 2017; National Immigration Law Center, 2017). It is essential that every clinic, mental health center, community center, and hospital serving migrant families works to develop safety plans to be followed in the event that immigration officials carry out these actions that directly compromise the safety of migrant and refugee children and families in their care (Dawson‐Hahn & Cházaro, 2019). Several specific protocols to protect patients’ rights have been outlined by the National Immigration Law Center (National Immigration Law Center, 2017).…”

“…For this reason, clinics, mental health centers, community centers, and hospitals must put protocols into place that address migrant safety. As one example, posting visible signs that outline migrants’ rights both inside and outside of the clinic and making clinic policies regarding confidentiality clear at the phone screening phase may ultimately help alleviate some degree of daily stress associated with accessing routine medical and mental health care (Dawson‐Hahn & Cházaro, 2019).…”

Applying Trauma-Informed Practices to the Care of Refugee and Immigrant Youth: 10 Clinical Pearls

“…Children are inherently resilient, and immigrant and refugee youth may additionally draw on community and ethnic resiliency [18]. TIC acknowledges and promotes their strengths, resiliency, and capacity to heal from trauma [11,12]. In contrast to a deficit-focused approach, a strengths-based approach focuses on growth and development and recognizes that acknowledging strengths can build resilience and promote healing [19].…”

“…No matter where a clinician is practicing in the world, taking care of children and youth who are immigrants or refugees means caring for children and youth that may have experienced trauma. It is well known that health care centers and primary care providers play a crucial role in promoting resiliency and mitigating the negative outcomes of trauma for immigrant and refugee families [9,10,11]. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends utilizing trauma-informed care (TIC) practices when working with immigrant and refugee families [12].…”

Infectious Diseases among Refugee Children

“…[135,136]. Increased funding in conjunction with multi-sector collaboration between governments, nongovernmental organizations, and local community agencies are needed to address the complex social, health, and economic needs of refugee and immigrant children and youth [137,138].…”