WASHINGTON — Following is the statement of Rosie Phillips Davis, PhD, president of the American Psychological Association, in reaction to the conclusions of two reports by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General regarding the facilities and mental health personnel responsible for migrant children being held by the Office of Refugee Resettlement:
“These reports confirm much of what we psychologists and the American Psychological Association have been saying for the last several years — namely, that migrant children who were separated from their families or arrived here unaccompanied are being retraumatized (PDF, 4.11MB)opens in new window within the government’s shelters and detention centers. Many are not receiving the mental health care they need due to the high caseloads being carried by mental health providers and the inability of shelter directors to attract and retain clinicians. This is unconscionable.
“Compounding this situation is the second report’s (PDF, 6.44MB)opens in new window conclusion that a significant number of these facilities housing children have hired case managers who did not have the necessary educational and professional experience to care for the children in their charge. Other employees were hired without evidence that they had the required FBI fingerprint check or the Child Protective Service check for employees with direct access to children. This cannot continue.
“The health, mental health and well-being of these children must be paramount. The American Psychological Association agrees with the HHS’ Office of Inspector General that these facilities need evidence-based approaches to treating traumatized children, and that they must hire enough qualified caregivers to handle the increasing caseloads. APA and our more than 118,000 members stand ready to assist in any way possible.”