Political, social, and economic upheaval experienced in many parts of the world led to the displacement of many young children and their families and their arrival to the US seeking protection and stability. Educational systems in New York State are consistently confronted with the challenge of integrating refugees, asylees, and other immigrant children and fortifying mechanisms to ensure their success. This webinar discusses lessons learned around the country and the world in integrating immigrant children into educational systems. Speakers tackle various questions, including what institutional arrangements facilitate or hinder immigrant children’s success. What are the best practices for increasing capacity for English language learning and bilingual education? Additionally, the pre-migration experiences of children who have been exposed to trauma and armed conflict mandate attention to their mental health support and treatment. Models of school interventions that can facilitate social and mental well-being for immigrant children are examined.
Presenters:
• Melissa Aviles-Ramos, Chancellor, New York City Public Schools
• Gladys I. Cruz, District Superintendent, Questar III BOCES
• Corinne Kentor, Manager of Research and Policy, Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education
• Rachel Stead, Interim Director of ENL and Refugee Students, City School District of Albany
• Adriana R. Mintarsih, Immigrant Integration Fellow, Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy
• Guillermo Martinez, Deputy Director & Intergovernmental Liaison, Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy
• Dina Refki, Executive Director, Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy
View the full program, with panelists’ bios and schedules: https://rockinst.org/rig-events/2025-events/the-educational-system-and-the-social-integration-of-foreign-born-children/