1. Immigrant and Refugee Parent Involvement in Schools and the Link to Academic Success and Mental Health of Children
Jodie Fishman
May 8, 2009

2. Consider “Juan”….

3. The Changing “American” Family
In 2000, 1 in 5 children in the U.S. immigrated here or had at least one immigrant parent
In 2007, immigrants accounted for 1 in 8 U.S. residents
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, A Profile of America’s Foreign-Born Population. Center for Immigration Studies: November Retrieved March 31, 2009, from

4. Unique Challenges Facing Immigrant and Refugee Children
Separation from families
Refugee camps
Exposure to violence
Moves from rural to urban settings
Cultural barriers
Language barriers
Poverty
Lack of health insurance

5. The “Caring Across Communities” Project
The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS)
3-year, national program
15 sites across the country
Immigrant and refugee dense communities
School-connected mental health programs

6. Objectives
Further understand attitudes and beliefs of immigrant and refugee parents towards schools and mental health
Find ways to increase immigrant and refugee parent involvement in schools by understanding barriers and facilitators to parent engagement

7. Research Questions
Does parent participation make a difference in the success of school-based mental health programs for immigrant and refugee children?
What are the barriers and facilitators to engaging immigrant and refugee parents in schools and school-based mental health programs?

8. Data Sources
Eileen Kugler, author of Debunking the Middle Class Myth: Why Diverse Schools are Good for All
Whitney Meagher, Program Coordinator for Health and Welfare, PTA National Office
Surveys of 500+ providers in the field
Case study of UNC’s Creating Confianza program

9. Results
Link between parent involvement in schools and academic success/mental health of child
Best ways to engage parents:
Collaborate with community
Find cultural brokers
Tailor outreach to culture
Create welcoming schools
Common barriers:
Transportation
Work schedules
Language barriers
School leadership

10. Conclusions
Integrating immigrant and refugee parents into schools is key to success of children
Culturally aware staff
Need to treat children and their parents/families simultaneously

11. Recommendations
Cultural diversity and language requirements for administrators and teachers before reaching their own classrooms
Teacher training in basic mental health needs
Paid positions dedicated to parent outreach

12. Recommendations, continued
Diversifying PTAs and addressing parent and child mental health at meetings
Redefine “parent”
Immigrant Parent Involvement plans, pilot programs

13. Remember “Juan”?

14. How Creating Confianza Helped “Juan”

15. Acknowledgements
Dr. Olga Acosta Price, Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, GWU
Dr. Julia Lear, Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, GWU
Dr. Mimi Chapman, Creating Confianza at UNC
Alejandra Martinez-Lacabe, Creating Confianza at UNC
Whitney Meagher, National PTA
Eileen Kugler, Embrace Diverse Schools

16. Thank you!
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