Pediatric Support for Children Eligible for Legal Humanitarian Relief.

Many children in immigrant families may qualify for legal protection-for themselves if unaccompanied, or as a derivative on parents' claims-on humanitarian grounds related to persecution or forced migration. Pediatric providers can offer a spectrum of multidirectional medical-legal supports to increase access to medical-legal services and support children who are undocumented or in mixed-status families. These activities can include providing trusted information, incorporating screening for health-related social needs, establishing networks for multidirectional referrals, and providing letters of support for legal protection.

What Should Count as Best Practices of Forensic Medical and Psychological Evaluations for Children Seeking Asylum?

The process of being granted asylum is complex, often taking months and years. Asylum seekers face high risk of being denied asylum in the United States. As medical and psychological evaluations assist in achieving successful asylum outcomes, human rights asylum clinics are being established throughout the country to facilitate these types of evaluations.

An American Academy of Pediatrics State Chapter Initiative Advocating for Immigrant Children and Families.

The Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics Refugee Immigrant Child Health Initiative (RICHI), a collaboration of physicians and child advocates, is one of the most robust state chapter programs of its kind. RICHI evolved by tapping into its key demographics to discern both patient needs and providers' skill sets. Although both may be unique to Illinois and its provider base, they can nonetheless provide a framework for creating and guiding state chapters to support the special needs of children in immigrant families.

Forensic Medical Evaluation of Children Seeking Asylum: A Guide for Pediatricians.

Applications for asylum in the United States have increased significantly in the past decade, including those by children fleeing persecution. Pediatricians may serve as a resource for children seeking asylum by participating in specialized training and performing forensic medical evaluations for use in the legal process. A forensic medical evaluation comprises an interview to elicit a narrative of reported abuse, a psychological assessment, and/or a medical assessment.