The heightened federal immigration enforcement that has taken place since 2017 is not only taking a toll on families and young people, but on the local child welfare agencies that serve them. In this new climate, interior jurisdictions—those counties located inland, farther from border towns—now have enforcement issues and an urgent need for guidance in policy development. To respond to these challenges, MPI and APHSA will conduct an extensive review of the literature including an update of a 2013 review on the health and human service needs of children with detained and deported parents conducted for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. MPI and APHSA will jointly develop a report and policy manual, host webinars, and provide state and county child welfare officials with technical assistance and detailed guidance for the implementation of promising practices.
The Migration Policy Institute and American Public Human Services Association will support state and local child welfare agencies in the development of research-informed policies and practices to mitigate the harm to youth caused by heightened immigration enforcement.
