Working with Grieving Immigrant Youth

Presentation Description

The United States has recently seen a significant increase in the number of unaccompanied minors from the Northern Triangle of Central America (i.e., El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala). These children and youth are refugees fleeing extreme poverty and gang violence. As these children integrate into our communities, the need to gain further awareness on how to best support this population has increased. Attendees will examine the implications of pre-migration, migration, and post-migration trauma and loss, cultural norms and expectations, unique coping strategies, and best practices when helping this bereaved population.

About the Presenter

Cindy Perez Waddle is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist. She holds a Master of Education in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Texas at Brownsville. Since graduating in 2014, she has worked as a counselor in the non-profit sector, including working with refugee minors from Central America. Presently, she specializes in providing grief support to children and their families. She is the Senior Counselor at Children’s Bereavement Center Rio Grande Valley, the sole provider in deep South Texas of grief support for children and their families.

 
Objectives

At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Understanding the specific needs for bereaved immigrant children and the most effective ways to help.

2. Identify cultural norms and their effect on the grieving process.

3. Identify 1-3 interventions that can be used with the population.