24 Capital Region Mental Health Professionals Make an Urgent Call to Secure the Safety

of Unaccompanied Children Being Detained by ICE Following the Reports of Widespread

Sexual Abuse

Albany, New York - March 7, 2019 -

Local mental health professionals issued the following statement following Congressional
hearings exposing widespread and ongoing reports of sexual abuse to unaccompanied minors in
government custody:

As mental health professionals, we received the news of 4,500 reports of sexual abuse to the
Department of Health and Human Services concerning unaccompanied minors being housed in
government facilities with both outrage and deep sadness. These children fled from terror and
violence in their homelands to find safety in the United States. Traveling hundreds of miles,
often alone or accompanied by family who are not their parents, these young people know
hardship, deprivation and violence. They are entitled under the Geneva Protocol (ratified by the
US in 1968) to petition for asylum based on the dangers they are fleeing. Under this Protocol and
Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the safety and human rights of
refugees are the explicit responsibility of the country where they are petitioning.

As mental health professionals, we know that sexual abuse has profound impact on both physical
and mental health. Often this impact is intergenerational. To heal from this traumatic experience
requires extensive therapy and can only begin when these children are in safe and trustworthy
environments. This process must begin by releasing children into the care of relatives and
community sponsors who can provide for their needs in a secure environment. Children who are
separated from their parents must be reunited with family members. No more separation of
children and families can be allowed to take place. Infants, toddlers and young children cannot
be detained in facilities. Family units must be kept together throughout the asylum process.
Senator Jeff Merkeley has introduced legislation titled the Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act.
This legislation will close detention camps housing immigrant children. We call upon New York
State congressional representatives to support this legislation and to act to guarantee the safety
and well-being of all children currently being cared for in government facilities.

As mental health professionals, we cannot remain silent when we witness the egregious lack of
care that results in multiple incidences of sexual abuse to a marginalized and vulnerable
population – migrant and refugee children. When government agencies fail to safeguard the
health and well-being of children, our values as a country and the public trust itself is
undermined. We are trained to create the conditions for prevention, care and healing for families
in our communities. This care begins with respect and honoring the basic human rights of all
children and families regardless of their citizenship or refugee status. Children deserve to be safe,
to be free from violence and to be protected while they secure permanent status in this country.

Sincerely,
Phyllis Adler, LCSW-R
Rachel Aguilar, MS
Karen Beetle, LMHC
Cara Bryden, LCSW
Darienne DeSalvo, LCSW-R
Deborah Duckworth, PhD
Tami Flaherty, LCSW-R
Joshua Gelber, LCSW-R
Ruth Geller, LMHC
Anita Giovannucci, LMHC
Alison Jacob, LCSW-R
Sheryl Kaplan, LCSW-R
Bernard Kinlan, LCSW-R
Adam O’Brien, LMHC
Suzanne O’Connor, MS Ed
Jennifer O’Connor-Lobato, LMHC
Jean Poppei, LCSW-R, PhD
Kathleen Ryan, LCSW-R
Viola Silvan, LMHC
Laura Tice, LCSW-R
Ronald Toseland, LMSW, PhD
Akua Twum, MS, MHC
Jill Wolski, LCSW-R
Gail Zinberg, LCSW-R