Health Care for Unaccompanied Immigrant Children in US Communities: A Guide for Pediatric Practitioners

Children who arrived at the United States border without a parent or legal guardian (ie, unaccompanied children) are present in communities throughout the country in growing numbers. For them to receive the highest-quality medical and mental services available, pediatric practitioners should have a foundational understanding of their unique set of circumstances and experiences. However, formal education on how to care for this specific immigrant subpopulation is not routinely incorporated into pediatric training programs, and limited clinical guidance is available in the published literature. This article provides best-practice recommendations for pediatric practitioners caring for unaccompanied children after their release from government custody, incorporating guidance for clinical encounters as well as suggestions of processes to meet their health-related social needs and advocacy actions to improve their well-being