“911” among West African immigrants in New York City: A qualitative study of parents' disciplinary practices and their perceptions of child welfare authorities

► West African immigrants use strict discipline to protect children from negative peers and permissive “American” values. ► These parents refer to child welfare authorities as “911” and perceive that they undermine parents by privileging children. ► West African immigrant children understand parents' strict monitoring but find the implied lack of trust frustrating. ► “911” expresses the discontinuity between collective responsibility in home countries and individual liability in the U.S.