Mental illness is one of the most prevalent health problems among children worldwide, with displaced children having a substantially greater burden of illness.1 Yet, our health care system is not recognizing or addressing the needs of potentially the most vulnerable subset of displaced children in the United States: unaccompanied alien children (UAC).
Correspondence: Ms Kennedy, Department of Geography, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182 (ekennedy@rohan.sdsu.edu).
Published Online: February 11, 2013. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.1382
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.
Additional Contributions: I thank John Ayers, PhD, Judith Cohen, MD, Aisha Dennis, JD, Carl Latkin, PhD, Eleanor Ott, MSc, Andrew Rasmussen, PhD, Ashanté Reese, MA, David Scales, MD, PhD, Steffanie Strathdee, PhD, John Weeks, PhD, Maria Zuñiga de Nuncio, PhD, and the anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful comments. I am also grateful to the 2 shelters, multiple advocates, and unaccompanied alien children who allow me to work with them regularly.