The Schubert Center for Child Studies has released a critical resource guide to support professionals working with immigrant families and children during a time of unprecedented fear, confusion and disruption caused by rapidly changing immigration policies.
Designed for professionals on the frontlines including pediatricians, teachers, social workers, early educators and child care workers, the newly released guide brings together the most current national and Ohio-specific guidance and resources in one accessible document. The guide is organized into four key areas, including:
- Early Childhood and Child Care
- Education in K–12 Schools
- Health Care and Mental Health in Pediatric Settings, and
- Child Welfare and Family Court Supports for Children.
Each section provides practical tools, current resources and key considerations to help providers safeguard children’s access to care, safety and developmental supports. Although not a legal document, this guide is designed to serve as a trusted resource for navigating a complex and evolving environment with accuracy, clarity and compassion.
Nearly one in four children in the United States has at least one immigrant parent, and the vast majority are U.S.-born citizens. In Ohio alone, more than 250,000 children live in immigrant families. Federal actions significantly impact Ohio immigrants, who may also face additional pressure from proposed state legislation that, if enacted, would risk transforming supportive community spaces into perceived extensions of immigration enforcement, thereby threatening public trust and child well-being across the state.
Research consistently shows that aggressive immigration enforcement harms children’s mental health, school attendance and academic performance. Pediatricians and parents report behavioral changes among children living under the constant threat of family separation including problems sleeping and eating, headaches and stomach aches and depression and anxiety. Public health experts now recognize these experiences as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) with lasting consequences across the lifespan.
See the full guide below: