The Research Needs of Migrant Families and Children
Author: de Leon Siantz, Mary Lou
This paper provided an overview of the research needs of the migrant farmworker population. First, the changing demography of the migrant population, and the impact of risk factors such as poverty, housing, lifestyle, poor health, lack of education opportunity, discrimination, and migration, on the family and children is reviewed. Second, what little is known about the migrant farmworker is considered, and their research needs, including basic data, are discussed. Third, the importance of the Migrant Head Start program to developing a Migrant farmworker research agenda are presented. Migrant Head Start is in a unique position to develop a data base that identifies and describes the migrant family's physical, mental health status and needs, its cultural strengths, unique adaptation strategies, and potential for success through its health, education, social services, and parental involvement components. Researchers must go beyond their ivory towers to develop partnerships and studies that not only provide knowledge but concrete benefits to those they are studying.
This paper provided an overview of the research needs of the migrant farmworker population. First, the changing demography of the migrant population, and the impact of risk factors such as poverty, housing, lifestyle, poor health, lack of education opportunity, discrimination, and migration, on the family and children is reviewed. Second, what little is known about the migrant farmworker is considered, and their research needs, including basic data, are discussed. Third, the importance of the Migrant Head Start program to developing a Migrant farmworker research agenda are presented. Migrant Head Start is in a unique position to develop a data base that identifies and describes the migrant family's physical, mental health status and needs, its cultural strengths, unique adaptation strategies, and potential for success through its health, education, social services, and parental involvement components. Researchers must go beyond their ivory towers to develop partnerships and studies that not only provide knowledge but concrete benefits to those they are studying.
