Immigration and Child Welfare Resources

Immigration and Child Welfare Resources

Child welfare professionals are increasingly encountering complex immigration-related situations as they work to support children and families in their communities. Navigating these issues can be difficult, requiring not only an understanding of child welfare practices but also familiarity with immigration processes, legal considerations, and culturally responsive approaches. This collection of resources is designed to serve as a practical starting point, bringing together a range of accessible resources to help child welfare professionals better understand the experiences of immigrant children and families, and to strengthen their ability to support them effectively. Whether you are seeking legal guidance, community-based support, or tools for effective communication, this information can help to strengthen your ability to advocate for and support the well-being of all the children and families you serve. 

Resources

Expand all

Working With Immigrant Families and Youth

What Happens to Children When Immigrant Parents are Detained by ICE
PBS News Hour
This audio interview covers a discussion between White House correspondent Liz Landers and Tara Watson of the Brookings Institution. When immigrants are detained, the number of children they leave behind and what happens to them, most of whom are U.S. citizens, is largely unknown. Listen (or view the transcript) to learn about the welfare systems that are in place (or not in place) to support these children. 

Protecting Families When Fear Runs High
Alia Innovations
This piece summarizes the discussion and key insights from a recent "UnSystem Roundtable" which convened a small group of human services leaders for a confidential, solutions-focused conversation on preparing agencies, staff, and communities for heightened disruption related to immigration enforcement and detention activity. 

Protecting the Best Interests of Non-Citizen Youth in CHIPS Proceedings: Key Updates for Minnesota Child Services Workers
CASCW
Brought to you in partnership with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid and The Advocates for Human Rights this pre-recorded webinar discusses the importance of child services workers in the state of Minnesota having a process in place to screen and make timely referrals for representation at the outset of any CHIPS proceeding. 

Home Visiting as a Bridge: Supporting Resettled Families Through Transition & Growth Chapin Hall
Chapin Hall
This webinar explores practical social supports and engagement strategies for working with resettled families, featuring findings from a recent project that centers the lived experiences of dual-language families in home visiting programs—communities that remain deeply underrepresented in early childhood, home visiting, and mental health research.

Promoting the Rights of Immigrant Children Through State and Local Action 
Children’s Rights
This brief highlights concrete steps state and local leaders can take to protect immigrant children and support families, including the critical but often overlooked issue of how these policies can push children into the family policing system when parents are detained or deported. Three pillars structure the brief, protecting children's access to essential services, upholding meaningful legal protections and rights, and keeping children safely within families communities and is available in both Spanish and English.

Child Welfare Resource Guide for Serving Foreign National Children, Youth and Families Impacted by Human Trafficking and Other Crimes
Department of Children, Youth, and Families
This guide includes definitions, immigration status considerations, and additional resources.

MA for Former Foster Care Youth: A Guide for Child Welfare and Community Agency Workers
Department of Children, Youth, and Families
This guide is for county, Tribal, and community agency child welfare workers to learn more about Medical Assistance (MA) for youth over age 18 in Extended Foster Care and former foster care youth up to age 26 in Minnesota (MA-FFY).

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Guide 
Department of Children, Youth, and Families
This guide provides an overview of special immigrant juvenile status, including eligibility criteria and role of case managers and the juvenile court in facilitating access to special immigrant juvenile status for eligible noncitizen children.

Know Your Rights Immigration Guide for Fosters 
Foster Advocates
This critical Foster informed guide breaks down immigration information for MN Fosters in care as well as documentation and rights post foster care.

Being Undocumented in the United States
Homeless Youth Handbook
This website includes helpful resources and answers some commonly asked questions.

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) “At-Risk Juveniles”
LawHelpMN.org
This fact sheet gives information on SIJS for at-risk juvenile guardianships.

Supporting Children After a Parent's Deportation or Detention
Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health 
The deportation of a parent can be a very stressful and frightening event for a child of any age. Children may show mental health and behavioral challenges as they process the separation and adjust to the change in their lives. This document was prepared by child mental health professionals, and it describes ways to support healthy development and resilience for children in this difficult situation. It is also available in Spanish.

Minnesota-based Organizations and Resources

National Organizations and Resources

Emergency Planning

Policies and Practices