Providing psychological services for children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs): A challenge for school psychologists in the Philippines

Abstract

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.