SRCD-EADP-EARA Mission: Immigrant Youth Development.pdf

The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), European Association for Developmental Psychology (EADP), and European Association for Research on Adolescence (EARA) convened an experts' meeting in Hydra, Greece, to discuss the positive development of immigrant youth. The meeting was organized by Frosso Motti-Stefanidi and Radosveta Dimitrova, with a mission statement working group and additional experts adopting the final statement.

Key points from the mission statement include:

- Successful adaptation of immigrants is crucial for receiving countries' economies and care for aging populations.
- Investing in childcare, education, and health programs for immigrant youth yields economic and social benefits.
- Economic opportunities for immigrant families and integration-oriented policies support successful adaptation.
- Bilingualism and biculturalism enhance immigrant youth's contributions to society.
- Discrimination and exclusion negatively impact youth development and social cohesion, while belonging and acceptance foster integration.

Recommendations for receiving countries include:

- Implementing research-informed policies and interventions.
- Creating non-segregated, welcoming environments for intercultural communication.
- Providing economic opportunities and early childcare, education, and health programs for immigrant youth.
- Launching public campaigns highlighting immigrants' contributions and respect for ethnic diversity.
- Considering these factors when resettling refugees.