Mitigating the Effects of Trauma among Young Children of Immigrants and Refugees: The Role of Early Childhood Programs

Young children of immigrants and refugees and children who themselves were refugees in the United States are more likely than their peers to be affected by trauma. Yet, despite greater awareness of the need for early childhood programs and professionals to take a trauma-informed approach to service provision, their capacity to serve the children of immigrants and refugees is lacking. The Migration Policy Institute’s Mitigating the Effects of Trauma among Young Children of Immigrants and Refugees dispels ideas that infants and toddlers are too young to be affected by violence, or by the loss of family members. Authors Maki Park and Caitlin Katsiaficas use Census data and review available research to suggest the need for trauma-informed early childhood programs to address the unique mental health challenges faced by young children of immigrants and refugees. While trauma experienced in relation to migration can negatively affect immigrants of any age, the consequences for young children are particularly harmful. Moreover, due in part to racial basis, their symptoms are often misunderstood. The brief recommends a number of specific programs to better support healthy social and emotional development of children in immigrant families including home-visiting programs and standardized mental health screening instruments that are culturally and age appropriate. The authors emphasize the importance of collaboration among mental health systems, Early Childhood Education and Care providers, and organizations that serve immigrants and refugees as a way to mitigate the effects of complex trauma. (Olivia Pickard for The Immigrant Learning Center’s Public Education Institute)

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