From Generation to Generation: The Health and Well-Being of Children in Immigrant Families

“Immigrant children and youth are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population, and so their prospects bear heavily on the well-being of the country. However, relevant public policy is shaped less by informed discussion than by politicized contention over welfare reform and immigration limits. From Generation to Generation explores what we know about the development of white, black, Hispanic, and Asian children and youth from numerous countries of origin. Describing the status of immigrant children and youth as “severely understudied,” the committee both draws on and supplements existing research to characterize the current status and outlook of immigrant children. The book discusses the many factors–family size, fluency in English, parent employment, acculturation, delivery of health and social services, and public policies–that shape the outlook for the lives of these children and youth. The committee makes recommendations for improved research and data collection designed to advance knowledge about these children and, as a result, their visibility in current policy debates.” – Publisher’s description CONTENTS PREFACE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Potential Influences on Health and Adjustment Health, Adjustment, and Protective Factors Socioeconomic Risk Factors Risk Factors Specific to Immigrants Public Assistance and Health Services: Participation and Use The Limits to Current Knowledge Recommendations for Research Recommendations for Data Collection and Information Dissemination CHILDREN IN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES Charge and Scope of the Study The Policy Context The Scientific Context Terminology and Analytical Distinctions Organization of the Report SOCIOECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC RISK General Childhood Risk Factors Risk Factors Specific to Children in Immigrant Families HEALTH STATUS AND ADJUSTMENT Birthweight and Infant Mortality Children’s General Health Chronic Health Conditions Infectious Diseases Environmental Toxins Nutritional Status Other Health Problems Adolescent Health Mental Health and Adjustment Summary PUBLIC POLICIES Provision of Public Benefits Use of Public Benefits Health Coverage and Access Use of Health Care Barriers to Health Care Summary CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Findings and Conclusions Research and Data Collection REFERENCES APPENDIXES A: WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS B: SOCIOECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS C: GLOSSARY D: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES INDEX OTHER REPORTS FROM THE BOARD ON CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES