Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1234752
newcomers to refuse mental health services. In their culture, therapy may be seen as a weakness instead of a way to work through problems. Segura says that if students are closed off and refuse counsel- ing, staff try to involve them in activities they enjoy, such as the Soccer Without Borders Program or school leadership roles. "We find places where they can shine and help them create new and better memories." Sadly, immigrant youths — especially unaccompanied minors — are susceptible to becoming gang members here, despite the irony of fleeing their homelands to escape gang violence. "ey get bullied and don't have a community, so if that's the community that reaches out to them, they may see no other option," says Segura, a member of Oakland Education Association. "ey perpetuate the cycle." "It's a huge problem," says McCarthy. "We try very hard to give them other options and connections to keep them out of gangs. If they can find respect on the soccer fields, respect in student government, are engaged in their classes and see a future that is possible, that's the best gang prevention tool we have." Unaccompanied minors: alone and afraid Luis, 17, is a senior at Redwood High School in Visalia. He grew up in Mexico with his parents and brother. One day he came to the U.S. to visit family members; he thought he was on vacation. After a few days, his parents called him from Mexico and gave him the choice of staying. He said yes, despite being 15 and unable to speak English. Above: SDEA member Shane Parmely, an English and art teacher at Bell Middle School in San Diego, advocates on behalf of immigrants in her community. Students and their families, she says, are being "ripped apart" and traumatized. Below: Yolanda Gooch, SDEA member and restorative justice teacher at Hoover High: "I see beautiful families, made up of law-abiding citizens, being torn apart." How COVID-19 Impacts the Undocumented T H O S E W H O A R E undocumented are particu- larly vulnerable to the impact of COVID-19. Undocumented students: • May suffer from hunger, since they rely on schools' free meals. • May lack devices such as iPads and laptops that allow them to stay connected with their schools for distance learning. • May have parents or guardians who work long hours and often work more than one job. As a result, older children may be responsible for caring for younger siblings, which could cause them to lag further behind their peers educationally. NPR reports that the undocumented, espe- cially in urban areas, may be more susceptible to the virus because they are more likely to live in densely populated housing and use public transportation. They tend to have lower incomes than native-born workers, and stud- ies show that low socioeconomic status can lead to adverse health outcomes. Also, among undocumented immigrants, fear of deportation might prevent them from seeking medical care if they are sick. Advocates of those held in detention centers and shelters have expressed fear that crowded and less-than-sanitary condi- tions make them extra vulnerable to COVID-19. Furthermore, USA Today reports that those who are undocumented may be struggling because their jobs are disappearing, they often have no company-sponsored health insurance, and they won't get government relief checks. 31 A P R I L / M AY 2 0 2 0