Menu

Statement

“A Lifetime Sentence of Poorer Health”: PHI Statement on Federal Family Separation Practice

The Public Health Institute joins hundreds of organizations, and hundreds of thousands of American citizens, in decrying the federal administration’s recently introduced decision to wrench children away from their immigrating parents at the U.S. southern border. It is cruel, traumatizing, may have lifelong health impacts, and is against everything we stand for as an organization—and everything we should stand for as a country. Each of the thousands of children being detained in these prison-like camps is, in effect, being sentenced to a lifetime of poorer health—a sentence they have not asked for and certainly do not deserve. And every day that this policy continues makes it more dire.

STATEMENT FROM MARY A. PITTMAN, CEO AND PRESIDENT, PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE

The Public Health Institute joins hundreds of organizations, and hundreds of thousands of American citizens, in decrying the federal administration’s recently introduced decision to wrench children away from their immigrating parents at the U.S. southern border.

“It is cruel, traumatizing, may have lifelong health impacts, and is against everything we stand for as an organization—and everything we should stand for as a country. Refugee families come to our borders because they are fleeing life-threatening situations; to compound that tragedy is unethical and immoral.

“PHI’s work focuses on the conditions that contribute to health, including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which are clearly and directly connected to early brain development and poorer health impacts across the lifespan. Children who are subjected to more ACEs—including separation from parents and neglect—are at a higher risk of health issues including cancer, substance abuse, mental health and behavioral issues and heart disease as adults.

“Each of the thousands of children being detained in these prison-like camps is, in effect, being sentenced to a lifetime of poorer health—a sentence they have not asked for and certainly do not deserve. And every day that this policy continues makes it more dire.

“Children belong with their families. Families belong together. PHI supports strong and immediate action that keeps immigrating families together, re-unites those that have been torn apart and treats immigrants with the dignity, respect and care that every member of our society merits. It should be a simple decision.”


More Updates

Work With Us

You change the world. We do the rest. Explore fiscal sponsorship at PHI.

Bring Your Work to PHI

Support Us

Together, we can accelerate our response to public health’s most critical issues.

Donate

Find Employment

Begin your career at the Public Health Institute.

See Jobs

Mural and kids' paintings hanging on a fence at a playground

Close

New Public Health Primer: Engaging Community Development for Health Equity

How can the public health and community development sectors to work together to advance health and racial equity? A new primer from PHI’s Build Healthy Places Network and partners provides a roadmap for forging upstream partnerships, with recommendations, strategies and lessons-learned from national, state and local leaders.

Explore the primer

Continue to PHI.org