Around the world, millions of families have been forced to leave their homes and move to new communities, usually due to armed conflicts or humanitarian disasters. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, some 3 million refugees have resettled in the United States since 1975. This includes those fleeing recent high-profile conflicts in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. For displaced students, adjusting to entering a new school is challenging.
Working with this vulnerable group of students requires a deft touch, but it also presents school leaders with an opportunity to make a difference in their communities. Schools are often an important touchpoint for these families as they settle into their new homes. This article (featuring NNED Steering Committee Member Salimah Shamsuddin) from SchoolCEO examines strategies that numerous districts around the country are using to welcome displaced students and their families into their schools in heartfelt, innovative ways.
These strategies include but are not limited to:
- Meeting students where they are
- Educating current students about the backgrounds of displaced students prior to their arrival
- Dedicating special staff to assist with transitions
- Providing professional development training for teachers
- Paying close attention to students’ mental health
- Getting families involved
Population: Displaced school-aged youth
Links to Resources:
- Read the full article, With Open Arms: Helping Displaced Students Feel Welcome in Your Schools
- Read the article, Mental Health and Forced Displacement from the World Health Organization
- Read the article, Internal Displacement: Relationship of Mental Health and Education of Children in Swat, Pakistan
- Read the fact sheet, Mental Health Facts on Refugees, Asylum-Seekers, and Survivors of Forced Displacement from the American Psychological Association
- Read the study, Hurricane Katrina: A Longitudinal Study of the Achievement and Behavior of Displaced Students