Abstract

The purpose of this paper to explore medical research journals and interviews with migratory farm workers and their families to explore the effect a migratory lifestyle has on the development of a child as they constantly move from place to place as they, or their parents, seek work following crop timelines in the United States. The articles and interviews used will inform the reader of factors these children face, such as social exclusion, poverty and food insecurities, and how these obstacles affect not only the development of their physical health and growth milestones, but also how they affect the child’s cognitive and mental health development. Some of these students have the additional hurdle of overcoming the hurdle of learning English as a second (or third, or fourth…) language. The interviews used in this article are from the Western Kentucky Regional Migrant Education Program (WKRMEP) students and families, with their permission to participate, as well as interviews from staff from the WKRMEP and their insight from working with these students and families as they migrate. Most common migration patterns here are notes as being to other states before coming back to Kentucky, especially during tobacco season, along with strawberry and melon harvest seasons. Medical journals used are from the American Academy of Pediatrics along with studies from the USDA, US Household Food Security Model and The American Journal of Public Health, among others.

Year Manuscript Completed

Spring 2020

Senior Project Advisor

George Michael Barton

Degree Awarded

Bachelor of Integrated Studies Degree

Field of Study

Arts & Humanities

Document Type

Thesis

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