Chapter 8 - Psychological issues and support systems for children and youth refugees and immigrants

Children and youth who come to the United States as immigrants or refugees experience barriers and challenges to their adjustment and development. They must go through the typical tasks of child development while also working through issues of trauma, relocation, separation from family, and/or learning a new language and cultural norms. At the same time, they bring numerous strengths and may have unique sources of support, such as cultural pride, strong family/community connections, and spirituality. In this chapter, the authors describe shared experiences for children and youth who are refugees and immigrants coming to the United States and discuss ways in which psychologists can assist through clinical practice and advocacy.