The selected topic for Strategic Plan is the mental health of unaccompanied children refugees at the U.S. border. As part of global tendencies, millions of refugees, which include underage children and adolescents, are undertaking high-risk journeys in order to flee from poverty, violence, war, persecution, and other adverse circumstances.
Due to the experiences in their home countries, the grueling journey, being locked in facilities once reaching the U.S., and the general state of being separated from family, many of these unaccompanied refugee children at an increased risk for psychiatric disorders and have a higher prevalence of mental health disorders, even when compared to peers accompanied by family (Khan et al., 2020). This highlights the serious need for mental health services for the vulnerable population as they continue to face adversity in the form of acculturation and political uncertainty upon reaching the U.S.
The primary organization which oversees the care, wellbeing, and health of unaccompanied minor refugees is the Office of the Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ORR has a specific program which is relevant, the Unaccompanied Children program that oversees the status of refugee children and offers services such as housing, education, socialization, and healthcare to the best of its ability and in cooperation with partner agencies and charitable organizations (Office of Refugee Resettlement, 2021). From current research, it does not seem that any specific or targeted mental health services are provided under the services of the ORR or its programs, so the strategic project will focus on service expansion in the organization.
The topic has been selected as the migrant crisis, particularly including unaccompanied children, at the U.S. border is currently a strong socio-political human rights issue. These children are a vulnerable population that have experienced tremendous struggle and trauma in the past and continue to face hardship in the U.S (Ataiants et al., 2018). The key milestones that will be engaged in this project are HCM-490-01, 490-02, and 490-05.
It will require a collaboration of various agencies and organizations to develop mental health services with the context of the current crisis, using culturally competent approaches that are effective. Next, it will require strategic planning and financial input to fund the programs. Finally, there should be a long-term solution to the issue will require significant policy change and governance structure to ensure that adequate and targeted healthcare services are provided for the refugees.
References
Ataiants, J., Cohen, C., Riley, A. H., Tellez Lieberman, J., Reidy, M. C., & Chilton, M. (2017). Unaccompanied children at the United States border, a human rights crisis that can be addressed with policy change. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 20(4), 1000–1010. Web.
Khan, F., Eskander, N., Limbana, T., Salman, Z., Siddiqui, P. A., & Hussaini, S. (2020). Refugee and migrant children’s mental healthcare: Serving the voiceless, invisible, and the vulnerable global citizens. Cureus, 12(8), 1-12. Web.
Office of Refugee Resettlement. (2021). Unaccompanied children. Web.