•  
  •  
 

Abstract

Over 500,000 youths become involved with the Juvenile Justice System in the U.S. annually. More than half have experienced maltreatment resulting in child welfare system contact, a co-occurrence described as dual system involvement. Immigrant and refugee youth (IRY) are numbered among Black young adults who are disproportionately represented in the dual system. There is little knowledge about the unique experiences of Black IRY who are involved with the crossover or dual system, as child welfare organizations are not required to collect or report that information. Previous studies suggest that Black crossover IRY are at an increased risk for dual system involvement because of higher levels of trauma, discrimination, emotional and behavioral problems, and acculturation experiences. The immigrant transitioning processes, legal status, acculturation, racism, and social isolation complicate and predispose Black crossover IRY to welfare system involvement and delinquency that may lead to juvenile justice attention. This review aims to bring to the forefront the issues faced by Black crossover IRY. Specifically, the paper extends the integrated risk and resiliency framework to situate Black crossover IRY and the empowerment and strengths-based perspective as an anti-racism tool for targeted policy considerations and action to meet the needs of Black IRY in the dual system.

Key Take Away Points

  1. There are increased risk factors for Black immigrant and refugee youth for dual system involvement, including issues arising systemic racism, acculturation factors, and immigration stressors.

  1. Black crossover immigrant and refugee youth have mental health symptomatology and 14 to 16 times higher levels of PTSD and depression than peers in the overall population

  1. It is critical to consider culturally grounded preventive, and trauma-focused interventions best suited to serve the needs of the black crossover immigrant and refugee youth

Author Biography

Ngozi V. Enelamah is an Assistant Professor in Social Work at the College of Health and Human Services, University of New Hampshire. Her scholarship focuses on health disparities in the maternal and child dyad and among Black US-born, immigrant, and refugee families. Her research addresses intergenerational risk, resilience, and protective factors for mental well-being and functioning in conflict settings and minority health, and promotes implementation science, task shifting, and transdiagnostic approach to interventions. Dr. Enelamah obtained her Ph.D. from Boston College and has over two decades of experience in macro practice, community, and public health. Sheryl Thompson is a registered social worker, psychotherapist, educator, mental wellness advocate and sought-after speaker, and with 15+ years experience in her field. She holds a Diploma in Social Service Worker, Honors Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work Windsor, and a Masters in Economic Development, and Innovation. Sheryl has been a professor in colleges and universities both in Canada and the USA for over a decade. Due to her involvement in interprofessional education and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion she developed, designed and curriculum, and taught across programs in Canada, USA, and internationally teaching in programs such as Social Work, Massage Therapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fire and Emergency Services. With over 10+ in clinical social work, she is the founder of Sheryl Thompson Counselling and Consulting a multi service private practise offering counselling, parent education programs, corporate training, consulting services, and mental health assessments and supports using a trauma informed, and culturally sensitive approaches. Sheryl has worked with victims, and perpetrators of intimate partner violence including family reunification programs and has completed the Intimate Partner Violence Victim Advocate Certification in the State of Maryland. She also holds several certifications in areas that she is passionate about and offers trainings and certifications in the following: safeTalk © preparing others to understand how to support and intervene with those who have thoughts of suicide. Caring Dads © working with fathers to change patterns of abuse, increase fathers’ awareness and application of child-centered fathering and to promote respectful co-parenting withchildren’s mothers. Circle of Security © a program that is based on decades of research about how secure parent-child relationships can be supported and strengthened and Super Dads Super Kids © a parenting program that aims to help deepen the connection and attachment between a father and his children. An international social work Sheryl is registered with the following associations: Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) National Association of Social Workers (NASW) International Association of Social Workers (IASW) Rebecca Skahan is a therapist and holds a Master's degree in social work program from the University of New Hampshire. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire at Manchester in 2021 with a Bachelor of Neuropsychology. Rebecca has experience working in the child welfare and family shelter system.

Download

Share

COinS