Like many newcomers, they first take on the outward cultural traits of their American peers. This prejudice against Southeast Asians creates a vicious cycle. At home, these new traits often cause friction within families, who rightly want to preserve some of their own traditional heritage. School counselors can help refugee youth slow the process of assimilation to a rate acceptable to both them and their parents. Whatever the outward manifestation, it is important to understand that the underlying causes of refugee students' problems may be their particularly stressful experiences both in Asia and in this country.
Schools can also offer special sessions to acquaint parents with the school system.
Unfortunately, many school projects have failed because there were no native language speakers. To be successful, parent involvement efforts must be spearheaded by bilingual personnel. So far, schools have created ties with parents through afternoon and evening ESL and high school equivalency certificate classes, parent-teacher conferences, multilingual newsletters and handbooks, and theater trips. Because the Hmong and Lao, who have little formal education, are the least likely to be involved with English outside the ESL classroom, special efforts may often be necessary to get these parents involved. Conferences with bilingual teachers are particularly important.