Assessing Need and Utilization of Community Services Among Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth

Background and Purpose: Unaccompanied immigrant youth (UAC’s) enter the U.S. daily to escape violence and oppression, extreme poverty, educational and political instabilities in their countries, or as victims of human trafficking. Once encountered by legal authorities in the US, UAC’s are placed in shelter care by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) until a sponsor/caregiver is identified. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services Children's Services (LIRS CS) contracts with ORR to provide both in-shelter services as well as follow-up services to UAC’s. Follow-up services follow a typical case management structure including referrals to legal assistance, mental health and substance abuse treatment, educational services, and medical needs coordinated by providers in community.  Although follow-up services are considered an integral part of integration into the community, only 5-10% of youth released from shelters are considered ‘high risk’ and receive such services. Other ‘lower risk’ youth are reunified without services to support or monitor them after release.  Anecdotal evidence suggests that they suffer similar difficulties as their higher risk peers who receive services and that family breakdown and crisis often emerge after the initial 6 months ‘honeymoon’ phase of reunification. This research sought to assess more concretely the needs of children released from shelter care with no follow up services in place. 

Methods: The initial sampling included 100 sponsors of UAC’s released from LIRS affiliate shelters without follow-up services. Sponsors were explained the research study during the release process and asked if they would consent to participate. Those that consented were contacted at intervals of 14 days, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-shelter release which models the typical LIRS follow-up services home visit schedule. At each interval, a member of the research team completed a qualitative survey regarding the family’s challenges and successes in accessing services in the community without case management support.

Results: Preliminary data indicates that many families are able to access and utilize services in the community through their own efforts. During the qualitative interviews, sponsors reported being able to complete the basics of what is necessary for the UAC’s integration, including enrolling in school, and accessing needed medical services. However, information gathered also points to ongoing issues that sponsors were unable to resolve on their own—most consistently, regarding UAC and family legal issues pertaining to immigration status.

Conclusions and Implications: The results highlight the significance of the research practice collaboration since the project has served as an unintended intervention regarding the lack of awareness of available services and service utilization among sponsors and UAC families.  It can be argued that while these families are able to begin the process of integration, often the need for follow-up among this population persists. Findings from the first group of 100 sponsors and UAC’s has led to funding for an additional 100 sponsors and UAC’s in the research. This second group will allow LIRS to create a more precise picture of the capacities and needs of this population.  Preliminary findings point to adequate community integration and ability to access and utilize services.