Collaborating with transnational families: Learning from the experiences of family caretakers, educators, psychologists, and spiritual leaders in Honduras

Abstract

This manuscript centers on the experiences of caretakers of minors in Honduran transnational families (TNFs) in which one or both parents emigrated, and of the schoolteachers, professional psychologists, and spiritual leaders working with these families. We report on the participants' knowledge and learned lessons, which we place in dialog with the interdisciplinary literature on TNFs in sociology, psychology, gender studies, and cultural studies. Through a participatory methodology, we collaborated with the participants to develop a series of guidelines based on their experiences. We have structured this manuscript in four intersecting themes: (1) Affectivity related to parental migration and its consequences; (2) Community dimensions and actors; (3) Family arrangements and agreements; and (4) Family communication at a distance. These guidelines and insights may prove helpful to current, prospective, and past TNFs who may see their experiences reflected in this manuscript, and to professionals working with TNFs. The participants' knowledges and suggestions can be instrumental in understanding and professionally supporting these families' well-being, care, and unity.