Data on the immigrant status of parents are not collected uniformly across child welfare systems for a number of reasons. Immigration issues vary from State to State, and some States may not collect information about the immigrant status of families. States and organizations may have different definitions of 'immigrant,' making it hard to collect uniform data. Families also may be reluctant to report their immigrant status out of fear of government systems. While there are gaps in knowledge, national databases such as the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) provide some of what is known about these families. Find resources in this section to help child welfare workers better understand immigrant families, including statistics, strengths and challenges, and relevant law and policies.
- Statistics
- Strengths and challenges of immigrant families
- Immigration and child welfare laws and policies
Statistics
Children in Harm's Way: Criminal Justice, Immigration Enforcement, and Child Welfare
Phillips, Cervantes, Lincroft, Dettlaff, & Bruce (Eds.) (2013)
Sentencing Project & First Focus
Includes articles written by leading scholars, policy analysts, and practitioners about a subgroup of children whose parents are affected by the interplay of the criminal justice, child welfare, and immigration enforcement systems.
Children of Immigrants in the Child Welfare System: Findings From the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (Part I) (PDF - 436 KB)
Dettlaff & Earner (2010)
Migration and Child Welfare National Network
Presents the results of a survey of children of immigrants receiving child welfare services that indicates the characteristics, risk factors, and incidence of maltreatment among children of immigrants who are receiving services.
Children of Immigrants Data Tool
Urban Institute (2012)
Provides searchable data related to the demographics of immigrant children, including child, parent, and family characteristics.
Children of Immigrants: Immigration Trends (PDF - 100 KB)
Fortuny & Chaudry (2009)
Urban Institute
Discusses the increase in population and characteristics of children of immigrants in the United States using data from the 2007 American Community Survey and other sources.
Children of Immigrants in the U.S. Child Welfare System (PDF - 253 KB)
Lincroft & Dettlaff (2010)
First Focus
Discusses the number of immigrant children in the child welfare system, the strengths and challenges of immigrant families, and provides recommendations for more research.
Data Across States: Children in Immigrant Families (Percent)—2018
KIDS COUNT (2018)
Estimates the percentage of children under age 18 who are foreign-born or reside with at least one foreign-born parent.
Latino Children of Immigrants in the Child Welfare System: Findings From the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (PDF - 427 KB)
Dettlaff & Earner (2010)
Migration and Child Welfare National Network
Presents findings from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) regarding Latino children of immigrants receiving child welfare services. Includes characteristics, risk factors, and types of maltreatment experienced by this population.
MPI Data Hub
Migration Policy Institute (2013)
Provides interactive research and data tools to analyze international and U.S. immigration trends and patterns, including data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Department of Homeland Security on the numbers and characteristics of immigrant populations residing in and arriving to the United States.
Unauthorized Immigrant Population: National and State Trends, 2010
Passel & Cohn (2011)
Pew Hispanic Center
Estimates the size and composition of the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States and includes information on the status of children of unauthorized immigrants and on their parents' arrival timeframe and country of origin.