Collaborative on Global Children's Issues

Children arriving to the United States unaccompanied are among the most vulnerable among us, and yet they arrive with individual stories, strengths, and incredible resiliency that can contribute to their long-term success. Unaccompanied children have been separated from their parents and guardians under various circumstances and come to the United States fleeing violence, abuse, poverty, exploitation, and other often traumatic circumstances. Since 1994, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Department of Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS) has worked with a national network of direct care providers to deliver child welfare services to these youth through Safe Passages programming. USCCB/MRS’ Safe Passages programs belong to a network of providers funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to provide critical support to unaccompanied children. Following harrowing journeys, children arrive to the United States often alone and afraid. USCCB/MRS and our network, aligned with our faith-based mission to tend to the vulnerable and uphold the dignity of the human person, are called to care for these youth.

Needs of the Children We Serve

The majority of children served through Safe Passages programming come from areas of the Northern Triangle region of Central America prone to violence and poverty. In transit, some may have experienced violence, been victims of trafficking, traveled without an adult, or been separated from their adult family members or caregivers during their journey. Many children have mental and physical health concerns. Often, the children have gaps in their formal education or never received a formal education. Additionally, many of the children in the care of Safe Passages programs have little or no English proficiency and must learn English as a second language in the United States. These children also arrive with minimal information or misinformation regarding their legal rights and U.S. laws. In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has served to exacerbate the peril and risk to health that children from Central America endure before, during, and after their journey to the United States.

Beyond these basic concerns, following reunification with adult caregivers, children, and their families frequently face ongoing challenges. After many years of separation, both children and their caregivers often navigate a complex web of expectations and emotions; many children express anger, sadness, or confusion about initially being left behind in their home country. Children and caregivers alike may struggle with unmet expectations after the initial “honeymoon period” of being reunited. These challenges are exacerbated by the feelings of isolation that can come with being in a new place, lacking social connections, and facing difficulties accessing community and social services. Caregivers of unaccompanied children may also experience insufficient employment, housing instability, a lack of reliable transportation, and language barriers. When children enter a community after reunification, they may be at risk for trafficking or entering the labor market at a young age after facing barriers to school enrollment or feeling pressure to help support their family’s financial needs.

USCCB/MRS providers across the country work to address these challenges and prepare children and their caregivers for success after reunification. Children in the Safe Passages program receive case management and access to medical, dental, vision, and mental health care; individualized education; and legal screenings. Particularly vulnerable children receive post-release services for up to 90 days following reunification, which includes: assessment and action planning with families; psycho-educational information and resources to families to address any areas of need and concern; connection to community resources and services; and referrals to immigration legal services. These services are aimed at promoting the safety, stability, and well-being of unaccompanied children while they are in immigration proceedings. Children in longer-term foster care programs and those who receive post-release services are provided with resources to acclimate them to U.S. schools, such as tutoring and intensive English support in addition to wraparound services and cultural orientation. Children are also connected with a legal services provider regarding their immigration cases and to receive education on their rights and U.S. laws. For older children or parenting youth, programs also provide job readiness training, employment support, housing resources, transportation assistance, and parenting classes.