Detention Facilities Challenged In Meeting The Mental Health Needs Of Unaccompanied Child Immigrants

Provider organizations operating facilities for unaccompanied child immigrants reported challenges in meeting the children’s mental health needs. Executives of these facilities attributed the challenges to employing mental health professionals, accessing external mental health provider organizations, and transferring children to facilities that provide specialized treatment.

The unaccompanied child immigrants are under the supervision of the Office for Refugee Relocation (ORR), within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The number of younger children, many separated from their parents at the Mexico–United States border, increased rapidly over two months in the spring of 2018. The proportion of young children—defined . . .