PolicyLab

As PolicyLab has been providing its expertise to comment on several immigrant issues with broad implications for children’s health, we have been joining with and looking to our partners who are doing critical work in this space. That’s why we were honored to have one of the most visible advocates for children’s well-being at the border come speak with us last week—Colleen Kraft, MD, MBA, FAAP, immediate past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Dr. Kraft’s presentation covered a variety of topics relating to immigrant child and family health such as separation of parents and children at the border, lessons from other countries on integrating refugee populations, the potential effects of the proposed public charge rule and much more. What struck me the most about Dr. Kraft’s presentation were the stories she shared about the devastation and toxic stress she witnessed when visiting a family detention center on the southern border in 2018. Shortly after she returned, Dr. Kraft wrote an influential opinion piece on family separation that received much attention from policymakers. This clearly shows that pediatric providers have a strong voice on this issue and can bring their expertise to the table to illustrate how this is not a matter of politics, but one of child health and well-being.

With many other concerns surrounding immigration-related issues and child health remaining, the AAP continues to speak out on practices and policies that are harmful to children. Be sure to check out the AAP’s blueprint on improving the lives of children for more.

 

This post is part of our “____ in 200 Words” series. In this series, we tackle issues related to children’s health policy and explain and connect you to resources to help understand them further, all in 200 words. If you have any suggestions for a topic in this series, please send a note to PolicyLab’s Strategy & Communications Manager Lauren Walens.