International Social Service, USA (ISS-USA) was invited to attend a meeting organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross in El Salvador entitled, “Responses throughout the Northern Triangle: Coordination of Legal, Psychosocial and Reintegration Strategies in Response to Zero Tolerance”. The meeting, which took place from November 8-9 in San Salvador, El Salvador, brought together legal and social service providers from the Northern Triangle and the U.S. to exchange information and resources in support of parents and children separated at the U.S. border.
The goals of the event were to identify current and long term reintegration needs for families, map services for separated and reunifying families, and connect a network of social service providers in the region. Participants learned about resources available through different organizations and ways to refer families to existing services or supports.
ISS-USA recently published the Spanish language version of the Practical Guide for Children on the Move, and is launching a pilot program in Guatemala to fund pre-departure and post-return services for children reunifying with their families after forced separation at the border.