How can we help children separated from their parents? | Ashley Viagbo | TEDxLargo

Quick Overview

The distance between separated families, stemming from events like deportation, illness, or systemic failures in child welfare, can cause profound psychological harm like anxiety and depression, but healing and restoration are possible through consistent support, fostering a sense of belonging, and shifting from a child protection focus to a family protection focus.

Key Points: Ashley Viagbo recounts being separated from her mother at age nine when her mother was arrested and subsequently deported from the US back to Sierra Leone. The speaker emphasizes that the trauma of separation—whether due to deportation, illness, incarceration, divorce, or adoption—is not unique and affects millions of children annually. Research from the NIH shows that 33% of children experience at least one stressful life-changing event before the fifth grade, leading to long-term psychological effects like PTSD and anxiety. The speaker argues for a shift in focus within child welfare systems from a child protection focus to a family protection focus, ensuring consistency and support for the entire unit. A key takeaway is that separation does not have to result in lifelong, deep-seated wounds, as healing and restoration are achievable. The speaker concludes by stating that every child deserves stability, survival, feeling understood, and a sense of belonging, urging the audience to reimagine how they care for separated children.

Context: This TEDxLargo talk, titled 'The Distance Between Us,' is a personal narrative delivered by Ashley Viagbo, who shares her experience of being separated from her mother at age nine due to her mother's arrest and subsequent deportation to Sierra Leone. She uses this deeply personal story to discuss the widespread psychological impact of family separation, whether caused by systemic issues like immigration policies or personal crises like illness or divorce, and advocates for systemic changes in how children in these situations are supported.

Detailed Analysis