COUNSELING THE CHILDREN OF OFWS

In the last 30 years, there has been a rapid increase of Filipino parents leaving the country and their families for better job opportunities abroad. Existing literature points out the impact of migration on the families and on the well-being, academic performance, and school behaviours, family and peer relationships of the children left behind, and the need for interventions to address these concerns. A review of the literature and a survey on the current practices in schools reveals a lack of structured and programmatic interventions in school, which mental health professionals in schools recognize to be essential to help OFW children adjust better. Considering the gaps in the current practice, we recommend that more purposive school-based and family-focused psychological services are implemented to help the children and families left behind by OFW parents.

Factors that may negatively or positively affect the formation and personal

development of the children:

Global parenting Search for role models Academic performance and school

behavior General well being Socialization of children and learning to

be independent

Several studies to show migration of parents is indeed heart breaking for

children: longing for parental care burden of girl children in performing the

“caring” work Confusion over gender boundaries and

reversal of gender roles Developing a consumerist attitude Vulnerability to abuses

Impact on Children Migrants

lost identity or culture gap fear of xenophobia Challenge in the access to education system OFW teenagers (particularly females) looking

elsewhere for parental care, may lead to promiscuity, premarital sex, unwanted pregnancies, unfinished college studies

Insecure OFW kids can be prone to crime, drug dependence, alcoholism, gender-identity problems

Incest between left-behind spouse and older kids

Counseling Intervention1) developing awareness on migration

realities; 2) bridging communication gap; 3) instilling savings consciousness; 4) promoting the importance of education

and setting of goals; 5) fostering gender sensitivity; and 6) promoting peer counseling.