Amid Migration Surge, Acts to Protect Kids at Every Step

Working with country teams and other partners in countries of origin, transit and destination, delivering mobile health care, including immunizations and nutrition screening and support; providing shelter and safe spaces for mothers and children to access physical and mental health care; and creating alternative pathways to education for out-of-school children.also conducts family tracing and reunification for child migrants to connect them to family members.

As part of its ongoing efforts to address the root causes of migration,is also working in countries of origin to:

• increase access to alternative education and vocational training — including both online and offline models — to help children and adolescents prepare for a productive future
• scale up cash transfers to help families climb out of poverty and stimulate local economies
• build a cadre of locally-trained social workers who can provide counselling and mental health support to vulnerable young people and help prevent violence within communities
• protect and reintegrate children who have been recruited to gangs

During a virtual briefing on April 20, Fore called on the global community to help do more. She urged support for the UN Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean's comprehensive development plan for Northern Central America — "an important opportunity to build needed infrastructure, spur economic activity and address the root causes of migration" — and for the Mexican government as it implements legal reforms to protect and support migrant children and phase out detention.