This study addresses potentially stressful events that accompany the process of immigration for children and their families. Acculturation stress, combined with service disparities, may contribute to a higher risk for psychopathology among immigrant children and youth, as compared to their parents. Culturally informed, evidence-based treatment and preventive interventions that meet the mental health and cultural needs of immigrant children and families have the potential to minimize this higher risk of adverse mental health consequences. © 2010 American Orthopsychiatric Association.

immigrants Immigration policy families Children School-based programs Acculturative family distancing Assimilation Ethnic disparities Cultural competencies Mental health Ethnically specific services Refugees Acculturation prevention Racism Xenophobia

refugee mental health human immigration Refugees Stress, Psychological mental stress Adaptation, Psychological substance abuse social support Mental Health Services mental health care United States evidence based practice Humans family Adolescent Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation high risk population cultural factor child psychiatry Article behavior disorder adult Emigration and Immigration psychosocial development Social Responsibility risk reduction Child Development Healthcare Disparities Social Adjustment health care disparity suicidal ideation Child