Networks of Care: Educator Perspectives on Supporting Central American Unaccompanied Minors in U.S. Schools

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 3:45 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Reimagining Educational Research for and with Latine Students

Abstract

This study explores how educators perceive and engage with the formal and informal networks that shape the educational experiences of Central American unaccompanied minors in U.S. public schools. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 30 educators in California, the research is grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory to examine how support is constructed across nested systems, from classrooms and peer relationships to legal and housing services. Findings highlight educators’ roles as advocates and surrogate caregivers, the importance of trust-building, and the challenges posed by unstable living arrangements and systemic barriers. This study contributes to immigrant and refugee education research by illuminating how educators construct networks of care and support for unaccompanied minors.

Authors

• Stephany Cuevas, Chapman University

• Martha C. Franco, California State University - Long Beach