Traumatic Separation and Refugee and Immigrant Children: Tips for Current Caregivers

National Child Traumatic Stress Network

This resource from the U.S. National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides tips for current caregivers and others to help address the needs of immigrant and refugee children who have experienced traumatic separation. The relationship with a parent is critical to a child’s sense of self, safety, and trust. Separations from parents and siblings— especially under sudden, chaotic, or unpredictable circumstances such as those related to war, refugee, immigration, or detention experiences—may lead children to develop depression, anxiety, or separation-related traumatic stress symptoms. This tip sheet outlines what children of different ages might be experiencing and how caregivers and others can help. The resource is available in Spanish here.

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