In response to the U.S. government’s Zero Tolerance Policy enacted in May 2018, which led to the separation of families at the border, Seneca, in collaboration with Public Counsel and Sidley Austin, stepped forward to advocate for those affected. Driven by the principle of “Todo Por Mi Familia” – everything for my family – a class-action lawsuit was filed, demanding essential mental health services for families grappling with the profound psychological trauma of forced separation. Seneca served as a pro bono expert witness, contributing crucial insights that led to a landmark legal victory in November 2019. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction, compelling the U.S. Government to provide immediate mental health care to these vulnerable families as they navigated the policy’s devastating aftermath within the United States.
This legal victory paved the way for the creation of Todo Por Mi Familia (TPMF). Funded through a contract from the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration (HHS), TPMF has become a nationwide initiative dedicated to linking reunified families across the United States with vital mental health assessments and treatment. Seneca mobilized a network of over 300 clinicians, working in close partnership with advocacy organizations like the ACLU and the Biden Administration’s Family Reunification Task Force. During the initial contract period, TPMF successfully provided behavioral health services to over 1,000 individual family members, embodying its core mission of todo por mi familia.
Recognizing the ongoing need and the complex challenges faced by these families, HHS, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, awarded Seneca a renewed contract in June 2022. This expanded contract allows TPMF to broaden its scope, offering a more comprehensive range of behavioral health services. Beyond mental health treatment, the program now includes psychiatric evaluations, medication management, psychoeducational classes, pre-reunification counseling for children anticipating their parents’ arrival in the U.S., and access to inpatient psychiatric services. Understanding that todo por mi familia encompasses holistic support, the program also provides comprehensive behavioral case management services to every family seeking assistance.
The comprehensive support offered under this federal contract includes:
- Personalized care through a dedicated Seneca Behavioral Health Case Manager who conducts initial assessments and develops service plans in partnership with each family. These managers then facilitate connections to essential local services, including behavioral health providers tailored to the families’ unique needs.
- Barrier-free behavioral health services are provided completely free of charge and delivered in the family’s native language, ensuring effective communication and culturally sensitive support.
- Strict confidentiality is maintained; Seneca ensures that no family information or service details are shared with any external party without explicit written consent.
- Proactive support extends to psychoeducation and parenting guidance, alongside practical assistance with children’s school enrollment and coordination with school-based behavioral health resources.
- Holistic case management includes connecting families to public benefits and vital legal resources, addressing a wide spectrum of needs to support family stability.
- Specialized pre-reunification counseling is available for children awaiting parents still abroad, offering crucial emotional support during this sensitive time.
In the first nine months of the renewed contract, TPMF’s dedicated team has proactively reached out to families previously served and newly identified families – both within the U.S. and internationally – to ensure they are aware of the program’s expanded services. This outreach exemplifies the program’s unwavering commitment to todo por mi familia.
Since its inception over two years ago, the program has achieved significant milestones:
- 1,919 families have been engaged since the current contract began, demonstrating the program’s growing reach.
- 1,296 individuals have received vital behavioral health services, directly addressing the trauma of family separation.
- 735 families have benefited from the newly added case management services between June 10 and December 31, 2022, highlighting the immediate impact of this expanded support.
*Behavioral health encompasses both mental health and substance use services, reflecting the comprehensive approach of Todo Por Mi Familia in supporting these families’ well-being.
