This paper is intended to provide an introduction to the use of the term separated children and to help the reader consider the needs of this population within the context of the U.S. refugee resettlement program. It provides examples of relevant current practices with separated children in the international refugee services arena and within U.S. child welfare practice, and it concludes with questions regarding service areas to be strengthened in meeting the needs of this vulnerable population in the United States. This paper was written in the hope that the ideas it presents will stimulate communications among relevant public and private entities in order to enhance services to resettled refugee children outside the care of a parent.
