Chapter 6: Serving the Needs of Refugee Children and Families through a Culturally Appropriate Liaison Service

Because refugee children account for a so small a percentage of the U.S. school-age population, there is a dearth of research that specifically addresses their needs, sometimes resulting in poor communications between refugee families and schools. Our mixed methods study focused on one urban refugee agency’s liaison services designed to facilitate such communication. The program hired and trained refugee adults to serve as liaisons between school personnel and refugee families of their particular nationality and/or cultural background. Findings indicated both statistical significance and qualitative evidence that this community model makes a positive difference in the lives of refugee children and families, creating increased opportunities for school communications and partnerships.