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By Sam Piha
Many afterschool programs serve immigrant families. Many of these families have fears about the latest deportation campaign and how best to handle themselves, should ICE show up. These fears are shared by children and may be expressed at home or in the afterschool program. This raises the question of how best to talk with kids about their fears. It may be best to communicate with adult family members on how this is being dealt with within the family and share the advice of this blog.
According to Google AI, “When talking to children about the possibility of deportation, be honest and age-appropriate, reassure them of your love and support, and focus on their family's plan to stay safe and together. Here's a more detailed guide:
1. Explain in Simple Terms:
- Use clear language: Avoid legal jargon or complex terms. Explain what "deportation" means in a way they can understand, such as "being sent back to another country".
- Focus on the facts: Don't exaggerate or scare them with unnecessary details. Stick to the information you know and can control.
- Answer their questions honestly: If they ask about specific scenarios, answer them directly and truthfully, but avoid overwhelming them with details.
2. Reassure and Comfort:
- Emphasize your love and support: Let them know that you love them very much and that you will do everything you can to keep them safe and together.
- Focus on your plan: Explain that you have a plan in place and are taking steps to ensure your family's safety and well-being.
- Validate their feelings: Acknowledge that they might be feeling scared, worried, or sad, and let them know it's okay to have those feelings.
3. Focus on the Positive:
- Emphasize your strengths: Talk about your family's strengths and resilience. Remind them that you are a team and that you will get through this together.
- Highlight positive aspects of your community: Talk about the resources and support systems available to you and your family, such as community organizations, friends, and family members.
- Focus on the future: Talk about your hopes and dreams for the future and how you will work together to achieve them.” [i]
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Staff Education and Training
Because the advice for immigrant families can be very complicated, we recommend that afterschool staff invite a local immigrant advocacy organization to train staff and parents. We also recommend that program leaders confer with school leaders, as the district may have immigration policies and content experts that can also train staff and parents.
[i] Google AI, How to Talk With Kids About Deportation
