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Unaccompanied children are a growing and vulnerable population of immigrants who are arriving to the United States in increasing numbers, mostly from Central American countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. This study examines sociodemographic factors associated with unaccompanied children requiring family stabilization services as their primary need upon arrival to the United States. The sample includes children who received post-release services from nonprofits throughout the United States ( n = 851). Logistic regression analyses reveal that children from Honduras ( p < .05) and children who are placed with their fathers, compared with other sponsor types such as mothers or siblings ( p < .001), have greater odds of requiring family stabilization services as their primary need. In addition, older children have lower odds of requiring family stabilization services as their primary need ( p < .001). The study includes implications for practice and future research.

AbstractUnaccompanied children have arrived in increasing numbers to the United States since 2014, with 69,488 referrals to the Office of Refugee Resettlement in 2019. Little is known about the health and well‐being of unaccompanied children placed in long‐term foster care. This study includes a secondary analysis of administrative data from a national non‐profit that provides services and advocacy for unaccompanied children in long‐term foster care. The focus of the study was to examine how histories of child maltreatment (verbal, physical and sexual abuse and neglect) and substance abuse are associated with adverse outcomes in a sample of unaccompanied children in long‐term foster care (n = 204). Results from a negative binomial regression model indicate a history of sexual abuse and history of neglect are associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes for these children at their time of discharge from long‐term foster care. Research and practice implications are discussed.