Immigrant and Refugee Parent Immigrant and Refugee Parent Involvement in Schools and the Link to Involvement in Schools and the Link to

Academic Success and Mental Health of Academic Success and Mental Health of ChildrenChildren

Jodie FishmanJodie Fishman

May 8, 2009May 8, 2009

Consider “Juan”….Consider “Juan”….

The Changing “American” FamilyThe Changing “American” Family

In 2000, 1 in 5 children in In 2000, 1 in 5 children in the U.S. immigrated here the U.S. immigrated here or had at least one or had at least one immigrant parentimmigrant parent

In 2007, immigrants In 2007, immigrants accounted for 1 in 8 U.S. accounted for 1 in 8 U.S. residentsresidents

Sources:

Shields MK, Behrman RE. Children of Immigrant Families: Analysis and Recommendations. The Future of Children. Princeton University and The Brookings Institution. 2004;14(2).

Camarota, Steven. Immigrants in the United States, 2007. A Profile of America’s Foreign-Born Population. Center for Immigration Studies: November 2007. Retrieved March 31, 2009, from http://www.cis.org/articles/2007/back1007.html

Unique Challenges Facing Unique Challenges Facing Immigrant and Refugee ChildrenImmigrant and Refugee Children

Separation from familiesSeparation from families Refugee campsRefugee camps Exposure to violenceExposure to violence Moves from rural to urban settingsMoves from rural to urban settings Cultural barriersCultural barriers Language barriersLanguage barriers Poverty Poverty Lack of health insuranceLack of health insurance

The “Caring Across Communities” ProjectThe “Caring Across Communities” Project

The Center for Health and Health Care in The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS)Schools (CHHCS)

3-year, national program3-year, national program 15 sites across the country15 sites across the country Immigrant and refugee dense Immigrant and refugee dense

communitiescommunities School-connected mental health School-connected mental health

programsprograms

ObjectivesObjectives

Further understand attitudes and beliefs of Further understand attitudes and beliefs of immigrant and refugee parents towards immigrant and refugee parents towards schools and mental healthschools and mental health

Find ways to increase immigrant and Find ways to increase immigrant and refugee parent involvement in schools by refugee parent involvement in schools by understanding barriers and facilitators to understanding barriers and facilitators to parent engagementparent engagement

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

Does parent participation make a Does parent participation make a difference in the success of school-difference in the success of school-based mental health programs for based mental health programs for immigrant and refugee children?immigrant and refugee children?

What are the barriers and facilitators What are the barriers and facilitators to engaging immigrant and refugee to engaging immigrant and refugee parents in schools and school-based parents in schools and school-based mental health programs?mental health programs?

Data SourcesData Sources

Eileen Kugler, author of Eileen Kugler, author of Debunking the Debunking the Middle Class Myth: Why Diverse Schools Middle Class Myth: Why Diverse Schools are Good for Allare Good for All

Whitney Meagher, Program Coordinator Whitney Meagher, Program Coordinator for Health and Welfare, PTA National for Health and Welfare, PTA National OfficeOffice

Surveys of 500+ providers in the field Surveys of 500+ providers in the field Case study of UNC’s Creating Confianza Case study of UNC’s Creating Confianza

programprogram

ResultsResults Link between parent involvement in schools and Link between parent involvement in schools and

academic success/mental health of childacademic success/mental health of child

Best ways to engage parents:Best ways to engage parents:• Collaborate with communityCollaborate with community• Find cultural brokersFind cultural brokers• Tailor outreach to cultureTailor outreach to culture• Create welcoming schoolsCreate welcoming schools

Common barriers:Common barriers:• TransportationTransportation• Work schedulesWork schedules• Language barriersLanguage barriers• School leadershipSchool leadership

ConclusionsConclusions

Integrating immigrant and refugee Integrating immigrant and refugee parents into schools is key to success of parents into schools is key to success of childrenchildren

Culturally aware staffCulturally aware staff

Need to treat children and their Need to treat children and their parents/families simultaneouslyparents/families simultaneously

RecommendationsRecommendations

Cultural diversity and language Cultural diversity and language requirements for administrators and requirements for administrators and teachers before reaching their own teachers before reaching their own classroomsclassrooms

Teacher training in basic mental health Teacher training in basic mental health needsneeds

Paid positions dedicated to parent Paid positions dedicated to parent outreachoutreach

Recommendations, continuedRecommendations, continued

Diversifying PTAs and addressing Diversifying PTAs and addressing parent and child mental health at parent and child mental health at meetingsmeetings

Redefine “parent”Redefine “parent”

Immigrant Parent Involvement Immigrant Parent Involvement plans, pilot programsplans, pilot programs

Remember “Juan”?Remember “Juan”?

How Creating Confianza Helped How Creating Confianza Helped “Juan”“Juan”

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Dr. Olga Acosta Price, Center for Health Dr. Olga Acosta Price, Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, GWUand Health Care in Schools, GWU

Dr. Julia Lear, Center for Health and Dr. Julia Lear, Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, GWUHealth Care in Schools, GWU

Dr. Mimi Chapman, Creating Confianza Dr. Mimi Chapman, Creating Confianza at UNCat UNC

Alejandra Martinez-Lacabe, Creating Alejandra Martinez-Lacabe, Creating Confianza at UNCConfianza at UNC

Whitney Meagher, National PTAWhitney Meagher, National PTA Eileen Kugler, Embrace Diverse SchoolsEileen Kugler, Embrace Diverse Schools

Thank you!Thank you!

Questions?Questions?

Preguntas?Preguntas?물음물음 , , 질문질문 , , 질의  질의  ??

有问题吗？有问题吗？