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Immigration and Trauma Related Distress in 2020 DACA and Mixed Status Families amidst COVID-19
On October 5th, 2017, the Trump’s administration announced the rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has allowed undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and who met certain additional criteria become eligible for a work permit. The rescission of DACA affects not over 800,000 of youths, but also their family system and social networks due to the threat of family separation as a result of deportation and the disruption of social support networks. The ending of DACA could also significantly affect the current COVID pandemic as approximately 30,000 DACA recipients are healthcare practitioners that are supporting occupations on the frontline of responding to COVID-19. This presentation will include a data from a recent study that examined the association between immigration legal status and trauma related distress among individuals directly or indirectly affected by the possible rescission of the DACA program. Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will understand the association between anti-immigrant policies and trauma related distress among at-risk immigrant families. 2. Participants will identify barriers to the provision of mental health services for at-risk immigrant communities. 3. Participants will learn about contextual and cultural considerations in the assessment of trauma-related distress among at-risk immigrant populations. 4. Participants will acquire skills to effectively address and advocate for the mental health needs of DACA recipients and mixed-status families.
Objectives
Objective #1 Based on the content of this program, participants will be able to understand the association between anti-immigrant policies and trauma related distress among at-risk immigrant families.Objective #2 Based on the content of this program, participants will be able to identify barriers to the provision of mental health services for at-risk immigrant communities.
Objective #3 Based on the content of this program, participants will learn about contextual and cultural considerations in the assessment of trauma-related distress among at-risk immigrant populations.
Alfonso Mercado, PhD
Dr. Alfonso Mercado, originally from Los Angeles, earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the APA Accredited Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California. He also studied Clinical Psychology and Criminal Justice from California Lutheran University where he earned his Master’s degree. In 2012, Dr. Mercado joined the faculty at University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Currently, Dr. Mercado is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Science and School of Medicine's Psychiatry and Neurology Department at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. He is Bi-lingual and proficient and fluent in both English and Spanish. He is also a National Register Health Service Psychologist and provides psychological services in an underserved community in the Texas-Mexico border. Dr. Mercado has extensive experience in assisting clients in a variety of areas, such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, serious mental disorders, and life transitions. He specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Anxiety and Depression, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Multicultural and Forensic Psychology. He is the Director of the Multicultural Clinical Lab where they focus on treatment efficacy with culturally diverse groups, personality and substance abuse research with Latino populations, and examining trauma and resiliency with recent immigrants. Dr. Mercado also serves his profession in several capacities. He is President-Elect Designate for the Texas Psychological Association and also serves as the Diversity Division Chair, and is an active member of the American Psychological Association, and the National Latino Psychological Association. Dr. Mercado is a Diversity Delegate at the APA’s Practice Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. and was recently elected to the American Psychological Association Committee on Rural Health. Dr. Alfonso Mercado was also the recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley for Sustainability Education in 2017, was awarded the Knowledge Award for Excellence in Education and Research- American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities-Texas Chapter, and was the recipient of the Texas Psychological Association Outstanding Contribution to Education Award. In 2019, he was named Psychologist of the Year for his clinical, research, and advocacy work with recently immigrated families along the U.S.-Mexico border. Alfonso Mercado, PhD., Licensed Psychologist
Luz Garcini, PhD
Luz Maria Garcini, Ph.D., MPH, is a nonresident scholar at the Center for the United States and Mexico and an Assistant Professor at the Center for Research to Advance Community Health (ReACH) at UT Health San Antonio's Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine. Broadly, Garcini’s research focuses on the study of trauma, loss and grief among Latino immigrants. The primary goal of her research is to inform policy and best practices among providers, as well as to develop and disseminate interventions for individuals and families facing adversity. Her current work with Projecto Voces, which involves both community outreach and research, has generated scientific evidence to document and address the complex health needs of undocumented Mexican immigrants and deportees.
