Jodie Fishman May 8, 2009

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 ofChildren. 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

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! Questions? Preguntas? 물음, 질문, 질의  ? 有问题吗？