How Professionals Can Help Immigrant Families and Children

Immigrant families tend to be clustered in crowded urban areas known for their harsh conditions, scarce resources, and high rates of violence and crime. However, research data shows that first-generation immigrants are 45% less likely to commit acts of violence than third-generation Americans. This finding suggests that aspects of immigrants’ cultural experiences may be protective against the perpetuation of violence.

In general, a healthy pattern of adjusting to life in a new country entails learning aspects of the new culture while retaining aspects of the native culture. For example, immigrant children who express a strong sense of obligation to their families report higher levels of self-esteem and psychological well-being than children of non-immigrants. Familial obligation may contribute to a child’s sense of purpose and feelings of connectedness within the family, and may also motivate school achievement.

In working with immigrant families, professionals should be culturally knowledgeable so as to better empathize with clients and their families, and make assessments regarding best treatment practices in each individual case. Culture is a key factor in children’s growth and development, directly influencing family structure, relationships, methods of communication and discipline, and behaviors, expectations, and beliefs of both parents and children.

The following are tips for professionals working with immigrant families on issues of parenting and adjustment:

• Encourage consistent, authoritative parenting, in which parents strive for close, nurturing relationships with their children, while also maintaining reasonably high expectations and guidelines. Understand parents’ goals for their children’s behavior and their own discipline strategies. (Always keep an eye out for signs of child abuse or neglect.)
• Facilitate healthy adjustment to life in the U.S. Maintaining positive cultural aspects from the country of origin will help children adapt to a new culture. Support parents as they continue their own cultural traditions, and if necessary, help them understand their children’s experiences in the U.S.
• Parent-child interaction is lower in immigrant families than in non-immigrant families, perhaps due to higher rates of poverty and lower levels of educational attainment among immigrant parents. Encourage immigrant parents to close this gap by reading to their children, participating in parenting classes, taking them on outings (to the park, grocery store, local library, etc.), and communicating with them both verbally and non-verbally (hugging, affection, attentive listening).
• Children of immigrants are less likely to receive public benefits, though they experience higher rates of economic hardship, uninsurance, and fair or poor health than children of non- immigrants. Not only is there a lack of knowledge of services in the immigrant population, but undocumented immigrants fear that using these services will lead to deportation if discovered. Discuss available programs and benefits with immigrant parents, including how to access these services. Professionals may want to display multilingual posters or distribute informational pamphlets to their clients in order to encourage use of available services.

Capps, R., Fix, M., Ost, J., Reardon-Anderson, J., & Passel, J. (2004). The health and well-being of young children of immigrants. Washington, DC: Urban Institute.