Reviews the experiences of the New York State child welfare system in caring for the influx of unaccompanied refugee minors from Southeast Asia since 1979. While policies for caring for these children do not differ substantially from state to state, implementation of these policies has taken on many different forms; for instance, Khmer minors have been inconsistently placed with Khmer families, in American homes, or with American families geographically separated from other foster families caring for Khmer minors. Foster placement also requires social and emotional adjustment. Problems identified by child welfare workers include depression, psychosomatic complaints such as insomnia, anxiety, survivor guilt, defiant or aggressive behavior, and identity confusion. Since the ultimate goal is to help these children become self-sufficient, the child welfare system must provide appropriate, accessible services such as: (1) social networks that enable minors to share emotional support with individuals from similar backgrounds and ethnic groups; (2) counseling that mitigates possible conflicts that occur when children are reunited with their original families; (3) programs based on a model of multiculturalism; (4) counseling to help relieve the stresses of acculturation and personal development; and (5) educational and career-counseling services.
