Hosted on September 17, 2025, the training was delivered by Claire Hopkins, Training Officer, Switchboard & Senior Director, Safety, Health & Education Technical Unit, International Rescue Committee; Beth Farmer, Senior Training Officer, Switchboard; and Jenna Christie-Tabron, Senior Training Officer, Switchboard.
Newcomer youth arrive in the U.S. with a variety of experiences, strengths, and resilience but may also face unique risks for abuse, neglect, exploitation, and marginalization. This Child Protection Roundtable Series will explore how service providers, caregivers, and program staff can work together to create safer, more supportive environments for youth.
The three-part series will address how to recognize early warning signs of harm, proactively build safety plans that honor youth voice and culture, and provide meaningful support to caregivers and staff. Through real-world examples and discussion, participants will gain tools to support sustainability and connection in placements, programs, and relationships with newcomer youth.
This roundtable series is designed for service providers, caregivers, and program staff working with newcomer youth who want to strengthen their response to child protection concerns and improve the safety and well-being of the youth they care for.
While not a requirement, Switchboard encourages participants to watch the archived webinars Traumatic Stress Among Refugee Children and Youth Part 3: Responding to Abuse, Exploitation and Trafficking and Safety Planning with Unaccompanied Refugee Minors in advance of this series.
After participating in this 75-minute session, you will be able to:
- Identify signs of abuse and neglect within the unique context of newcomer youth
- Recognize how cultural beliefs and developmental stages influence newcomer youth risk and safety
- Apply strategies to ensure safe and stable newcomer youth placements
