UNAC/UHCP President Denise Duncan, RN, released the following statement on the families belong together movement.
“Like many Americans, I am horrified by the scenes from our U.S.-Mexico border, where parents seeking asylum in the United States are forcibly separated from their children.
“As a country founded on the promise of safety for those facing persecution, violence and sometimes certain death in their home countries, we cannot stand for any approach to refugees that forces innocent children from the arms of their parents. Such trauma is certain to haunt these children for the rest of their days. Regardless of your political views, we should all agree harming children for any reason is absolutely unacceptable.
“As a nurse, I know that mental health is a crucial part of overall health. Even when reunited, families will carry the scars of fear and mistrust—the same sort of misery their families fled in the first place. I am joining the chorus of calls for basic human decency: Let’s protect these families and make sure they get proper treatment to minimize the long-term negative impact on their health.”