Presenter Profile
Juliana Zhou, MS
Juliana Zhou is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP). In this capacity, she analyzes the economic supports that children and families need to thrive in their communities, with a focus on the unique needs of immigrant families and families of color. Juliana brings with her a background in qualitative and quantitative research and expertise in health equity and immigrant justice. Prior to joining the Policy Team at CSSP, Juliana was a Policy Analyst on the Public Benefits Justice team at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), where she worked on Medicaid, immigrant access to benefits, and data equity.
Presentations
Injury Prevention in Times of Crisis: Protecting Immigrant and Refugee Children and Families
Sofia Chaudhary, MD, MPH
Elizabeth Franklin, MSW, LICSW
Maria Veronica Svetaz, MD, MPH, FSAHM, FAAFP
Juliana Zhou, MS
Immigrant and refugee children may face increased injury risks related to displacement, unfamiliar environments, housing and transportation challenges, and barriers to preventive care. During periods of heightened immigration enforcement, these vulnerabilities may be compounded by instability, social isolation, and disruptions in the systems that support child safety. Such crises can simultaneously increase children’s exposure to injury hazards while decreasing access to the systems and resources that ordinarily protect them from those hazards.
This keynote will examine heightened immigration enforcement through a pediatric injury prevention lens, including how disrupted caregiving and supervision, delayed or avoided medical care, family separation, and direct exposure to enforcement encounters can increase risks for unintentional and intentional injury. Speakers will also consider how prolonged fear and uncertainty can contribute to psychological trauma and cumulative adversity.
Drawing on clinical, community, and organizational experiences, the session will highlight strategies to identify emerging injury risks, reduce hazards, maintain access to injury prevention resources and care, and strengthen protective environments for children and families. Participants will leave with actionable opportunities for injury prevention professionals, health care systems, and community partners to protect the physical safety and well-being of immigrant and refugee youth during periods of crisis.
1. Describe injury risks and safety vulnerabilities among immigrant and refugee youth, including those related to displacement, housing, supervision, unfamiliar environments, and barriers to preventive care.
2. Examine how heightened immigration enforcement can amplify injury risk and psychological trauma through disrupted caregiving, family separation, instability, delayed care, and exposure to traumatic events.
3. Identify trauma-informed, community-engaged strategies for pediatric injury prevention and health care professionals to reduce injury risk, maintain access to care and prevention resources, and strengthen protective environments for immigrant and refugee youth.