Supporting children affected by federal enforcement actions
For decades, the Institute of Child Development (ICD) mission has been to foster the well-being of children by providing evidence-based research that helps navigate development across the lifespan, including the challenges children and families face. We believe that every child deserves a safe and supportive environment in which to thrive, and we strive to ensure that our research serves as a bridge to real-world application for those who need it most.
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In light of recent immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis, we recognize that families in our community are facing profound uncertainty, fear, and distress. The trauma of separation and displacement has a deep impact on the developmental health of children. At this time, there exists a unique opportunity for families and professionals to engage in open conversations about what children may be seeing, hearing or learning about. Youth are exposed to injustices through multiple avenues, underscoring the importance of direct, age-appropriate conversations that can foster multicultural understanding, instill hope, and protective resources during highly stressful and uncertain times. To support our community during this difficult time, we are providing a compilation of resources that offer guidance on supporting children through this crisis. We hope these tools can offer some stability and comfort as we work together to protect the children in our community.
Featured resource
Materials provided by University of Minnesota infant and early childhood mental health professionals and Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health (MACMH):
- When children are afraid of a parent’s deportation by Hopewell Hodges, PhD Candidate from the Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota and colleagues
- Supporting children after a parent’s deportation or detention (available in English, Spanish, Somali, Haitian Creole, Pashto, Dari, Portuguese, Karen, Hmong, Ukrainian)
Virtual webinar on supporting children during immigration enforcement operations by Hopewell Hodges, PhD candidate from the Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota
Video Courtesy of Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health
Talking to children about federal enforcement in our community
- Talking to children about ICE raids and related events by Dr. Katie Lingras, child psychologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Talking with children about violence in the news: Guidance for parents and caregivers by National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota
- Talking to Kids about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) actions by Children’s Minnesota social work team
Supporting children after a parent's deportation or detention
- Reading list and guide for children facing a caregiver's deportation/detention by the University of Minnesota Maternal & Child Student Interest Group, the MN Department of Health & UMN Extension
- Age-related reactions to a traumatic event by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (available in English, Spanish, Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Japanese, Arabic, ASL, Polish)
Traumatic separation and refugee and immigrant children: Tips for Current Caregivers (available in English, Spanish, Dari, Pashto, Russian, Ukrainian) - Traumatic separation and refugee and immigrant children: Tips for current caregivers (available in English, Spanish, Dari, Pashto, Russian, Ukrainian)
Resources for professionals
- Center for Early Education and Development (CEED), University of Minnesota tipsheets
- ICE in our neighborhood: A social story to support teachers of preschool students ages 3-5 years old (available in English and Spanish) by Alma Márquez, MSW, LICSW
- Supporting young children affected by family separation policies by Zero to Three
- List of books to support learning about immigration
- Children with traumatic separation: Information for professionals by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Listening to caregivers of young children about immigration enforcement; Fact sheet from RAPID Survey Project, Stanford Center on Early Childhood