This section includes examples of State immigration laws, policy guidance, practice models, guides and information on Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
International Adoption and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Policy Transmittal (PDF - 95 KB)
Oregon Department of Human Services (2010)
Presents guidance to ensure State of Oregon compliance with the requirements of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000.
Living in the United States: A Guide for Immigrant Youth (PDF - 2,038 KB)
Immigrant Legal Resource Center (2007)
Helps both documented and undocumented immigrant youth in California know their rights. Topics covered include immigration status, employment, paying taxes, serving in the military, and becoming citizens.
Protecting Your Parental Rights: A Resource for Immigrant Detainees With Child Custody Issues in Arizona (PDF - 2,929 KB)
Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project (2010)
Describes how child protective services and the dependency court process function in Arizona.
'The Reuniting Immigrant Families Act': A Case Study of California's Senate Bill 1064
State Policy Advocacy and Reform Center
Describes how the bill was developed borrowing the lessons learned from similar federal efforts and how the diverse coalition of children, immigration and social justice organizations partnered to develop and pass the law. Concludes by highlighting the efforts of other States to replicate this California bill.
Services to Children and Families Who Are Not U.S. Citizens
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Handbook, Section 6711
Presents guidance on policy and procedure for caseworkers working with noncitizen children.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status: Information for Child Welfare Workers (PDF - 1,055 KB)
Minnesota Department of Human Services (2012)
Provides guidance on the requirements and benefits of Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) for caseworkers working with abused, neglected, or abandoned immigrant children. SIJS allows a child to remain in the United States, eventually obtain lawful permanent residency, and provides a child with a Government-issued photo identification card and employment authorization.
State Statutes Addressing Immigrant Issues
Child Welfare Information Gateway Library Search
Presents full-text statutes from several States that provide benefits and services to the families of legal immigrants.
Working With Immigrant Children and Families: A Practice Model (PDF - 3,369 KB)
Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Family and Children Services (2009)
Offers a training curriculum that presents new practices for improving the welfare of Georgia's immigrant children and their families. Topics covered include delivering culturally competent services, recognizing signs of maltreatment and human trafficking, and understanding how to utilize a variety of resources to help immigrant families.