AESA. Assignment 4
MT1022
UnaccompaniedMigrantChildren.docxUnaccompanied Migrant Children
Thousands of displaced children enter the United States each year from Latin American countries, traveling thousands of miles without a parent or guardian. They are fleeing from areas of extreme poverty, violence, drug-related gang activity, sexual exploitation and trafficking. Upon arrival, they are detained, and according to immigration law, must be placed with a federally funded agency that will provide short-term care while they transition to placement with family or other sponsors.
Transitional Foster Care
The foster placement is just the beginning of their transition. Cayuga Centers uses a multi-tiered team approach to address the needs of these children during their short stay in transitional foster care. The bilingual team includes Case Managers overseeing all aspects of the youth’s treatment and unification plans, clinicians, medical staff, education staff, skills trainers and aides.
We specialize in tender ages (children under 5) and care for under age moms and their babies
Within the first 24 hours, all children receive a medical screening. If needed, a plan is developed to address health issues, including visits to specialists or other medical courses of action
All children receive a mental health assessment. This is a unique population that has been exposed to trauma such as poverty, sexual abuse, human trafficking, gang violence and domestic violence.
Using trauma-based therapy from the TST model, children attend weekly individual and group therapy sessions, and group community meetings that encourage discussion
All children receive an educational assessment to best match the level of education to the child’s age, and education plans are developed. The plans include traditional subject study, and educational and recreational field trips
Children attend the agency-operated Learning Centers and receive 6 hours of instruction every weekday
Children meet with a skills trainer to become acclimated to American culture and learn basic life skills
Children are released to sponsors (parent, family, friend or guardian) as soon as all sponsor qualifications are met
The Key to Success:
1. Foster Parents and a Place to Call Home
Cayuga Centers offers the least restrictive form of placement to this special population. Children are matched to bilingual foster parents who are familiar with the language and culture of their foster children. These children are placed in homes rather than a congregate facility, and those from the same family can stay together in a supportive and safe home. Foster parents are trained to work with these children and to support the treatment team in meeting the child’s needs. What they offer immediately is a safe haven after a very long journey.
2. Are children detained at Cayuga Centers?
No. Under a contract with the US Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Cayuga Centers runs a transitional foster care program for unaccompanied children (UC). Cayuga Centers plays no role in the apprehension or initial detention of unaccompanied children or their family members prior to ORR’s referral to our program which includes:
· short-term foster care in a loving home, with a certified, Spanish-speaking family
· medical and psychological support
· learning and play during the day (typically 8am – 4:30pm)
· support in accessing consular and legal assistance
· family unification services
3. Why are unaccompanied children brought to New York City?
Cayuga Centers has developed a large network of certified, bilingual foster families in New York City to meet the cultural and language needs of these children in a safe home environment. Foster parents complete mandated training and certification, and work with the child’s team throughout the unification process. The concentration of a large number of parents in a compact geographical location means that we can offer additional services, such as day care, learning and play, medical and psychological support, consular and legal assistance, and unification assistance. New York City’s transportation links facilitate family access and unification.
4. Who monitors and regulates your program?
Cayuga Centers reports the daily status of each child to ORR via an online network. Foster parent and home certification are regulated by New York State Office of Child & Family Services (OCFS).
INSIDE OUT, INTROSPECTIVE VIEW OF UC LONG TERM FOSTER CARE
