News

June 21, 2018

Center on the Developing Child Statement on Separation of Families

Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D., Founding Director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University has released a statement on the impact to healthy development for young children separated from their families at the United States’ border.

Dr. Shonkoff states that based on the available understanding of decades of research, healthy brains develop through consistent, stable, responsive, and supportive relationships with at least one caregiver. He further notes that high and persistent levels of stress can disrupt this brain development as well as other biological systems having severely negative impacts on learning, behavior, and physical and mental health throughout the child’s life. Dr. Shonkoff calls for immediate reunification.

“Stated simply, each day we fail to return these children to their parents, we compound the harm and increase its lifelong consequences.”

To read Dr. Shonkoff’s full statement and for resources related to family separation visit developingchild.harvard.edu.

News

June 19, 2018

Help Immigrant Children in Pittsburgh

Holy Family Institute is currently hosting 50 immigrant children until they can be reunited with their families. Donations are currently being accepted online or can be mailed to 8325 Ohio River Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA, 15202. Items are requested for children ages four to 14-years-old and include gift cards, suitcases, swimming supplies, and more.

For a full list of donation requests visit hfi-pgh.org.

Those wishing to help in person must attend a federally-mandated, 60-hour training. The next training begins July 9 and runs for a two-week period from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Bi-lingual volunteers who speak English and Spanish fluently are preferred.

Contact Lynn Guerra at Guerra.Lynn@hfi-pgh.org if you’re interested in volunteering.

#KeepFamiliesTogether

News

June 8, 2018

Keep Families Together

Since May 2018, approximately 658 children have been separated from their parents at the border.

More than 540 organizations from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that represent well-recognized experts in the fields of child welfare, juvenile justice, and child health, development, and safety including Trying Together have shared collective concern about this practice in letters sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

To learn more, view the letter sent to Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen or visit theyoungcenter.org. #KeepFamiliesTogether