Discusses the increasing numbers of immigrant families arriving in America and focuses on the Latino population and related administrative issues. A Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) study discusses the impact of the number of immigrant families entering the state on the child welfare system. A strengths-based assessment tool, Assessment for Immigration Dynamics (AID), has been developed to collect and analyze data relating to the cultural issues in child welfare. To address the problem of violence and neglect, a framework has been developed that includes: (1) assessment of lifetime exposure to violence; (2) staff training and supports; (3) linking of assessment information to services; (4) administrative supports; and (5) developing and nurturing of community partnerships. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), responsible for the care and custody of these children, frequently places them in institutionalized settings, although this practice has gradually moved toward small group-care facilities such as the Teaching-Family Model. As welfare workers received improved information and the appropriate tools to assess and intervene in the handling of child welfare issues, government obstacles to proper care and custody of unaccompanied children will be overcome. IN THIS ISSUE: 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 3 THE INTERSECTION OF MIGRAITON AND CHILD WELFARE: EMERGING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS 8 ADMINISTRATORS IN PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE: RESPONDING TO IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN CRISIS 20 LATINO CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE TEXAS CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM 41 EXPLORING THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE: AN EMPIRICALLY BASED TOOL FOR PRACTICE IN CHILD WELFARE 55 MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: LIFETIME EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE IN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES 67 THE CARE OF UNACCOMPANIED UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN IN FEDERAL CUSTODY: ISSUES AND OPTIONS 84 OVERCOMING GOVERNMENT OBSTACLES TO THE PROPER CARE AND CUSTODY OF UNACCOMPANIED AND SEPARATED ALIEN MINORS 99 CHILD WELFARE CHALLENGES IN CULTURALLY COMPETENT PRACTICE WITH IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES