Abstract: Moving Forward: Outcomes for Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Exiting Care in the United States (Society for Social Work and Research 21st Annual Conference - Ensure Healthy Development for all Youth)

Schedule:

Friday, January 13, 2017: 10:45 AM

Balconies L (New Orleans Marriott)

* noted as presenting author

Robert Hasson, MSW, Doctoral Student, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA

Thomas M. Crea, Associate Professor, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA

Kerri Evans, MSW, LGSW, Doctoral Student, Boston College, Baltimore, MD

Jodi Cardoso, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Houston, Houston, TX

Dawnya Underwood, MSW, Director of Family Reunification, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Baltimore, MD

Background and Purpose

While the numbers of unaccompanied children migrating to the U.S. has increased drastically in recent years, only a small number are granted refugee status. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) provides family-based foster care to minors with refugee status in the unaccompanied refugee minor (URM) program. Yet, little is known about URM outcomes upon exiting care from partner agencies and how these outcomes may differ by a minor’s country of origin and other demographic factors. This study explores outcomes for URMs at their time of exit from partner agencies after arriving to the U.S. The following research questions guide the study: (1) To what extent do URM outcomes differ by country of origin at their time of discharge from the care? (2) What factors predict voluntary termination from the program, emancipation, or negative outcomes (defined as death of a child, incarceration of a child, or a child who runs away from placement) for URMs exiting care?

Methods

The sample includes unaccompanied minors (ages 6 to 23) from 29 countries who were in the care of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (n=193) for a mean length of stay of 1,076 days. The mean age at discharge was 19.81 years old. Factors assessed at discharge include level of education, level of English language ability, employment status, and immigration status. We conducted chi-square tests and ANOVA analyses to compare these factors by children’s countries of origin at discharge. Binomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine how level of education, level of English language ability, employment status, and immigration status predict voluntary termination (yes/no), emancipation (yes/no), or negative outcomes (death, incarceration, or running away; yes/no for one or more) at time of discharge.

Results

Children from non-Central American countries had the highest levels of education (p<.001) and level of English language skills (p<.01). Children from Mexico spend the longest time in care while those from Honduras spend the shortest (p<.01). Multinomial regression analyses revealed that number days in care (OR=0.998; CI = 0.998–0.999), number of placement changes (OR=0.734; CI=0.550–0.981) and being enrolled in college (OR=0.199; CI=0.040–0.986) each predicted a lower likelihood of voluntary termination. Number of days in care (0.997; 0.995–0.999) predicted a lowered likelihood of a negative outcome. Days in care (OR=1.001; CI=1.000–1.001) and being enrolled in college (OR=3.675; CI=1.513–8.925) each predicted a higher likelihood of emancipation.

Conclusions and Implications

Significant differences were noted between education, English language ability and length of stay in care, by country of origin. Practitioners should be aware that children’s needs while in care will differ significantly based on their home country and other characteristics. Contrary to the experiences of children in domestic foster care, these findings suggest youth who experience longer stays in care are more likely to experience positive outcomes at their time of discharge. This dynamic suggests that placement in foster care may serve as a positive mechanism for some unaccompanied children to become acculturated to their new homes in the United States.