Interpreting traumatic narratives of unaccompanied child migrants in the United States: Effects, challenges and strategies

This research examines the challenges of interpreting for unaccompanied child migrants in the United States and the effect of exposure to the traumatic narratives told by these children, as experienced by the interpreters involved. When a traumatic narrative is introduced, over time it has an effect on the emotional and psychological well-being of an interpreter. This study therefore focuses on the coping mechanisms interpreters employ to minimize the effects of long-term exposure to the traumatic content when they work in settings involving migrant children. During the past few decades, a number of studies have been conducted on the emotional and psychological effects of traumatic content on interpreters who work in various contexts, but very few have focused on interactions involving this vulnerable group of migrants. This study uses a qualitative approach in which data were collected through semi-structured interviews with both trained and ad hoc interpreters who work or have worked with unaccompanied children seeking asylum in the United States since the summer of 2014. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on public service interpreting. It does so by offering the interpreter’s perspective on the specific challenges and difficulties of interpreting for unaccompanied child migrants in that country who face near-insurmountable systemic barriers and challenges. It sheds light on the delicate nature of interpreting for vulnerable groups, especially children, who are seeking asylum there. Furthermore, it brings into focus the applicable strategies that help interpreters prepare for interpreting traumatic experiences, and also for coping both during the act of interpreting and afterwards.

The making of unaccompanied children

This paper deals with the management of unaccompanied child migration. A legal framework laid out in international law aims to give internationally recognised human rights to children. These legal texts (re)invent the label of “child”, and more specifically, of “unaccompanied child”. This is a legally prescribed lexical label that discursively produces the figure of “child” as a legal, psychological and biometric surveillance object, resulting in ambivalent management of the children. In this paper, I show how this figure of the unaccompanied child is (re)invented in legal texts and then circulates in the humanitarian world via a process of entextualisation on supra/national and local levels in Greece. Drawing on eight months of ethnography on Lesvos Island, I demonstrate the tensions, disruptions, refusals and unsettling moments of struggle that arise when this definition and its related policies are implemented on the ground.

The Call of the Faithful: The Integration of Spiritual and Social Work Practice in the Time of COVID-19

This has been a season of change worldwide. It has become virtually impossible to ignore distressing news about the state of our world. COVID-19 has changed the way we live, work, how we think, and even how we grieve. Every day, Americans are bombarded with reports of rising death tolls, massive unemployment, economic turmoil, and dismal foreseeable predictions. This health crisis has put an enormous amount of pressure on the global community, and this is especially true for our clients who are new immigrants. This pressure has manifested in mental health challenges. Social workers have reported that for many clients the uncertainty and pressure are becoming too much to handle. Typically, clients are experiencing anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, and in some cases interpersonal violence (Brodhead, 2020; Endale et al. 2020; Saltzman et al.,2020). Now imagine the impact on unaccompanied minors arriving at our borders. Prior to the pandemic, the unaccompanied children were dealing with three crises simultaneously: 1) parental and home country separation; 2) trauma from a harsh journey; and 3) language barrier and cultural shock. These issues alone are overwhelming and cause powerful emotions such as anxiety in these children. So how can these emotions be managed, coupled with the dangers of COVID-19? How can social workers provide comfort and support when they may be experiencing the same emotions? This article brings this hidden reality into the public view and enrich the existing social work body of knowledge by demonstrating the restorative power of faith, spirituality, and self-care.

Mental health of unaccompanied children: effects of U.S. immigration policies

Background There is an unprecedented surge of forcibly displaced people globally, with a crisis of unaccompanied minors seeking haven across the US border. Aims This paper aims to provide an understanding of the intersection between mental health and immigration policies. Method Examples of contemporary policies that focus on the deterrence, detention and deportation of unaccompanied minors in the USA, will be discussed, as well as the mental health effects of such ‘iron triangle’ immigration policies. Results In the ideal circumstances, systems and policies for migrant children would uphold international humanitarian law, hasten the shift from enforcement to protection, adhere to a ‘do no (further) harm’ model that uses a trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach to engaging with migrant children, engage the community as stakeholders to end detention and advocate to share the burden of responsibility. Conclusions Building a humanitarian response that protects both country and migrant interest is possible through commitment and policy change that addresses mental, physical and legal protection needs.

TECHNOLOGY OF SOCIAL SUPPORT OF ORPHANCED CHILDREN AND CHILDREN LEFT WITHOUT PARENTAL SUPPORT: REGIONAL ASPECTS

The article considers the analysis of a sociological study on the study of technologies of the system of social support for orphans and children left without care, used in the Kursk region. The article examines the theoretical and methodological features of social work with orphans and children left without parental care; the technology of accompanying orphans and children left without parental care is studied. The features of the regional experience of implementing the technology of accompanying orphans and children left without parental care in the Russian Federation are studied. The problems with which orphans and unaccompanied children most often apply for social assistance are investigated.

Nutritional Behavior and Status of Unaccompanied Minor Refugees in the Moria Camp, Lesbos, Greece

Greece faces a migration crisis caused by thousands of refugees coming from the Middle East and Africa to overwhelmed camps that try to fulfill at least their basic needs including diet as a humanitarian aid. The aim of the survey is to determine both the eating habits and possibilities and objective anthropometric parameters to evaluate the nutritional status of unaccompanied children under 18 years of age in the Moria refugee camp on the island of Lesbos, Greece. The survey has found that the respondents are completely dependent on the food provided by the camp. 87% of them reported starvation at least once a week, 24% are underweight. The energetic value of the provided food is insufficient as compared to their real needs. We have encountered serious complaints about the catering but have also found that more than half of the respondents state that they would be able to cook for themselves. These minor refugees are also at risk of starting with smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol.