Addressing Inequities for Immigrant Families: Promoting Child and Parent Well-being through Social Policies and Services

• In Event: Policies and Factors Influencing the Well-Being of Immigrant and Hispanic Families

Abstract

One-quarter of U.S. children live in a family with at least one parent born outside of the U.S. These immigrant families are much less likely to utilize government programs that they are eligible for. Lower rates of utilization are due to both structural barriers preventing access and systemic patterns of exclusions for immigrants. These programs are intended to benefit parents and children, and thus it is important to understand their usage within immigrant families to address inequities. Similarly, community characteristics have been found to support immigrant families, and it is important to understand the aspects of communities that build upon strengths within immigrant communities.

Method
The research aims were to examine how the well-being of immigrant parents and their children over early childhood was associated with (1) receipt of social policies; (2) state variation in social policy restrictions for immigrants; and (3) community-level characteristics. Using a transformative mixed methods approach, quantitative analyses drew from a subsample of immigrant parents from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Birth Cohort (N=1,500), and qualitative focus groups were conducted in 2023 among immigrant parents with young children from two states (n=35) – one with restrictive policies towards immigrants and one with less restrictive policies. OLS regression models examined social policy receipt (RQ1), state restrictiveness (RQ2) and community resources (RQ3) and parent and child well-being, controlling for other family characteristics. Qualitative data were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory to identify related themes. Findings were examined side-by-side for convergence and member checking of integrated results was conducted in 2024.

Results
For RQ1, findings revealed the importance of program receipt in supporting parenting activities, alleviating family constraints, facilitating family investments, and connecting to knowledge and support. Quantitative findings suggested these parenting benefits were specific to SNAP while, in the qualitative data, there was broad support across the programs. Related to RQ2, results indicated that low‐income immigrant parents with young children experienced greater parenting‐related stressors in states with more restrictive policies toward immigrants. Quantitative findings revealed that children born in more exclusionary states had lower reading skills at age 4 and kindergarten. Qualitative results outline how sociopolitical contexts influence stress and social program access. RQ3 quantitative findings identified the use of religious and community services was related to more supportive parenting during early childhood which was mirrored in the qualitative which found that community resources supported meeting basic needs and developing organizational capital through trusted relationships. Additionally, the quantitative analysis found that socializing with neighbors and feeling that the neighborhood was good for children was associated with lower parenting stress at age 4, which was complemented by qualitative findings that perceptions of neighborhood safety influenced parenting stress and decisions.

Implications
Findings demonstrate that states with less restrictive policies and the receipt of nutrition and health insurance policies benefit immigrant families. Additionally, findings demonstrate the protective role of community resources for immigrant parent well-being.  This is pertinent given ongoing federal changes to social policies and immigrant exclusions and as states consider replacement programs and supports for immigrant families.

Author

• Kevin Ferreira van Leer, University of Connecticut
  Presenting Author