By Kelly Ranasinghe, Esq.  ,

Child welfare workers should be sensitive to the unique needs of victims of domestic violence who experience trauma from migration. Immigrant and refugee populations may have experienced severe trauma during migration, including physical and sexual violence, extreme poverty, abuse from government authorities, or trafficking. This trauma is in addition to, and exacerbates, the trauma of domestic violence. Whenever possible, child welfare workers and advocates should attempt to preserve the integrity of the relationship between the non-abusive parent and children, while working swiftly to protect the victims from further abuse and integrate tailored, culturally appropriate services.

This is part of a series of Immigration briefs, which include:

• Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence: Tips for Child Welfare Workers and Advocates
• Faith, Immigration, and Domestic Violence: Concepts for Working with Faith Communities
• The Impact of Domestic Violence in the Child Welfare System: Key Points for Court Professionals and Advocates