What happens when family resources are across international boundaries? An exploratory study on kinship placement in Mexican immigrant families.
Children in Latino immigrant families are significantly less likely to be placed in kinship care than other children are. Using grounded theory, the researchers conducted focus groups and individual interviews with child welfare workers working with Mexican origin families in south Texas to study the extent to which they use international kin placement resources. Key barriers to international kinship placement include lack of accurate information concerning international placements and conflicting agency mandates. Lack of child protective services policy enforcement also plays a role. Recommendations for practice and agency policy are discussed.
Cardoso
Jodi Berger
JB
Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA. jberger@mail.utexas.edu
Gomez
Rebecca J
RJ
Padilla
Yolanda C
YC
D019090:Case Management; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005190:Family; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D016134:Organizational Policy; D024382:Professional Role; D013781:Texas