?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fd-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu%2F20895%2F&rft.title=Taking+care+of+undocumented+children%3A+how+parents+and+providers+secure+health+care+for+uninsured+latino+children+in+a+new+growth+community&rft.creator=Pesantes+Villa%2C+Maria++Amalia&rft.description=This+research+explores+the+decision-making+process+of+Latino+parents+when+confronted+with+the+health+needs+of+their+undocumented+children+in+Allegheny+and+Washington+Counties+of+the+Commonwealth+of+Pennsylvania%2C+a+New+Growth+Community+where+Latinos+represent+fewer+than+5%25+of+the+population.+The+research+objectives+were+to%3A+(1)+describe+the+strategies+deployed+by+parents%2C+social+workers+and+healthcare+providers+to+secure+health+care+for+uninsured+Latino+children+in+a+New+Growth+Community%2C+(2)+illustrate+the+complexity+of+addressing+the+health+needs+of+Latino+children+whose+legal+status+in+the+USA+prevents+them+from+accessing+health+care%2C+(3)+identify+the+most+effective+strategies+to+provide+health+care+for+uninsured+Latino+children+from+the+variety+of+approaches+currently+used+by+parents%2C+social+workers+and+healthcare+providers%2C+and+(4)+propose+possible+measures+to+ensure+the+long-term+sustainability+of+these+strategies.%0D%0ADuring+the+summer+of+2010%2C+I+conducted+in-depth+interviews+with+parents+of+undocumented+children%2C+social+workers+and+healthcare+providers+serving+Latinos.+Testimonies+indicated+that+health+needs+of+undocumented+Latino+children+in+the+study+area+are+not+addressed+in+a+timely+manner.+This+affected+children%E2%80%99s+health+status+and+their+participation+in+school+and+afterschool+physical+activities.%0D%0AUndocumented+children+in+these+counties+do+not+have+access+to+preventive+health+care+and+mostly+rely+on+free+or+low-cost+clinics%2C+emergency+room+visits+or+the+generosity+of+local+doctors+and+providers.+Lack+of+information+about+available+services%2C+fear+of+questions+on+immigration+status%2C+and+concerns+about+medical+expenses+make+healthcare+decisions+harder+for+parents.%0D%0AParents+and+providers+often+depend+on+personal%2C+professional+and+community+networks+to+deal+with+urgent+medical+conditions+and%2For+specialized+care.+Such+strategies%2C+by+their+very+nature%2C+are+impermanent+and+unsustainable.+Institutional+healthcare+options+for+undocumented+uninsured+children+in+this+New+Growth+Community+are+few+and+not+optimal.+%0D%0AThis+research+is+of+public+health+importance+because+it+suggests+that+Latinos+and+organizations+that+work+with+Latinos+need+to+develop+advocacy+strategies+that+will+guarantee+access+to+low-cost+health+insurance+for+all+children+regardless+of+their+immigration+status.+Arguments+should+center+in+both+financial+and+public+health+implications+of+having+uninsured+children+in+the+county.%0D%0A&rft.date=2014-06-27&rft.type=University+of+Pittsburgh+ETD&rft.type=PeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fd-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu%2F20895%2F1%2FPesantesVilla_Amalia_MPHThesis_2014.pdf&rft.identifier=++Pesantes+Villa%2C+Maria+Amalia++(2014)+Taking+care+of+undocumented+children%3A+how+parents+and+providers+secure+health+care+for+uninsured+latino+children+in+a+new+growth+community.++Master's+Thesis%2C+University+of+Pittsburgh.++++(Unpublished)++