Session: Uplifting Central American Parents' Narratives: Strengthening Practice and Responding to Policy (Society for Social Work and Research 30th Annual Conference Anniversary)

This symposium highlights the resilience and strength of Central American immigrant parents navigating challenges in the United States. Drawing on four studies, it explores themes of survival, love, agency, and trans-generational bonds while addressing the impacts of policy and social work practices. Together, these presentations offer critical insights into the lived experiences of immigrant families and propose actionable recommendations for practice and policy. The study by Pardue-Kim et al. (N = 12) examines the parenting experiences of mothers who were previously unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) from Central America. Through constructivist grounded theory and collaborative methods, interviews with URM mothers revealed themes of sobrevivencia y amor (survival and love). Mothers demonstrated resilience by protecting their children from danger and striving to create better opportunities for them. Positive parenting experiences were linked to extended time in the URM program and higher-quality services. Findings emphasize the importance of sustaining high-quality URM services amidst recent policy changes. Rafieifar's study investigates strategies employed by undocumented Latine parents to prepare for potential family separation due to deportation. Interviews with 27 parents identified three themes: reliance on community sanctuaries for support, resilience rooted in relationships, and proactive preparedness measures such as caregiving arrangements and document organization. These findings highlight the agency of parents in safeguarding family unity under challenging circumstances. Recommendations include bolstering community-based infrastructures that empower families through cultural knowledge and relational support. The third study conducted by Aguilar focuses on the psychological impacts of migration-related separation and reunification on Central American parents. This study used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis with 10 participants. Results revealed that parents maintained meaningful connections with their children despite physical separation, fostering relational closeness through virtual parenting strategies. Spirituality, internal strengths, self-affirmation and shared experiences emerged as vital sources of emotional grounding. The study advocates for culturally responsive mental health services that address parents' individual needs during separation and reunification phases. The final study by Bjugstad and Berger Cardoso explores intergenerational trauma and resilience among 16 Central American and Mexican families. This study analyzed a subsample of interviews with Central American mother-child dyads to identify systemic traumatization, multidirectional transmission of trauma, and resilience through cultural values like salir adelante (continue moving forward). Findings emphasize how families harness values rooted in their culture to build resilience across generations despite systemic adversities. The study calls for practitioners and policymakers to address systemic barriers while promoting cultural strengths within immigrant families. Taken together, these studies illuminate the resilience and agency of Central American immigrant parents while addressing systemic challenges they face. By centering their narratives, this symposium underscores the importance of fostering culturally informed practices and responding to policy to further strengthen Central American immigrant families in the United States.