Background: The world has been facing a chronic refugee crisis. Nations that accept refugees are expected to provide culturally effective services, often without benefit of an evidence-based approach to resettlement. Summary: This study examines refugee service providers in three municipalities in Iceland and the recipients in the first six months of resettlement. Through a purposeful sampling (N35) of social workers and program managers (N = 10) and adult Syrian refugees (N = 25) who had arrived in Iceland six months prior, interviews were conducted and analyzed for thematic content. Findings: Providers developed methods for providing services that varied depending on resources and their expectations for the recipients. Recipients’ expectations influenced which services were perceived helpful. Integration had different meanings among the participants, and those differences informed experiences of resettlement. Applications: Countries can benefit from creating a team among the service sectors. Providers were unable to anticipate needs of refugees despite careful planning. The perceived importance of language acquisition varied among the participants. Community involvement was seen
(Edited publisher abstract)
Background: The world has been facing a chronic refugee crisis. Nations that accept refugees are expected to provide culturally effective services, often without benefit of an evidence-based approach to resettlement. Summary: This study examines refugee service providers in three municipalities in Iceland and the recipients in the first six months of resettlement. Through a purposeful sampling (N = 35) of social workers and program managers (N = 10) and adult Syrian refugees (N = 25) who had arrived in Iceland six months prior, interviews were conducted and analyzed for thematic content. Findings: Providers developed methods for providing services that varied depending on resources and their expectations for the recipients. Recipients’ expectations influenced which services were perceived helpful. Integration had different meanings among the participants, and those differences informed experiences of resettlement. Applications: Countries can benefit from creating a team among the service sectors. Providers were unable to anticipate needs of refugees despite careful planning. The perceived importance of language acquisition varied among the participants. Community involvement was seen as a critical factor in the resettlement process. The initial case management of the families consumed more time and energy than some of the providers expected.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
refugees, service provision, social work, immigrants;
International Social Work, 64(3), 2021, pp.425-437.
Publisher:
Sage
Concentrating on the largest refugee crisis in recent history, the need for countries to develop and implement resettlement programs has become imperative. This study’s focus is to understand the experience of professionals’ engagement with the program in Iceland. This is a qualitative study of the professional experiences of 20 providers. Consented audio-recorded interviews were transcribed, and thematically analyzed. The participants described available resources, expected familial needs, and a lack of cultural experts as challenges, but felt that their strengths were their development of service coordination via inter-departmental monthly meetings, and their approach to resettlement to include the needs of host communities as well.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Concentrating on the largest refugee crisis in recent history, the need for countries to develop and implement resettlement programs has become imperative. This study’s focus is to understand the experience of professionals’ engagement with the program in Iceland. This is a qualitative study of the professional experiences of 20 providers. Consented audio-recorded interviews were transcribed, and thematically analyzed. The participants described available resources, expected familial needs, and a lack of cultural experts as challenges, but felt that their strengths were their development of service coordination via inter-departmental monthly meetings, and their approach to resettlement to include the needs of host communities as well.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This article describes an ongoing group for Cambodian refugee elder women held in the Un. The group was facilitated by a White licensed clinical social worker who spoke only English and a bilingual, Cambodian interpreter. The interpreter interpreted for the members and the English speaking facilitator but also was a cofacilitator performing assessments of group dynamics, interventions, and actively facilitated alongside the licensed clinical social worker. This model is different than how interpreters are traditionally used. Challenges, strengths, and the dynamics of this model are discussed.
(Publisher abstract)
This article describes an ongoing group for Cambodian refugee elder women held in the Un. The group was facilitated by a White licensed clinical social worker who spoke only English and a bilingual, Cambodian interpreter. The interpreter interpreted for the members and the English speaking facilitator but also was a cofacilitator performing assessments of group dynamics, interventions, and actively facilitated alongside the licensed clinical social worker. This model is different than how interpreters are traditionally used. Challenges, strengths, and the dynamics of this model are discussed.
(Publisher abstract)
... an English speaking licensed professional in conjunction with a Khmer speaking paraprofessional, and both the strengths and challenges of this approach are discussed. The author notes that many agencies that serve refugees may not have professionally trained mental health providers who are from the country of origin of their clients, and suggests that the model outlined holds promise to provide culturally
This article presents a description of a support group for 16 Cambodian refugee women, aged between 44 and 60 years. The women, all survivors of the Khmer Rouge from the 1970s and 1980s, have current diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder. The women detail their trans-cultural experiences of ageing within the United States. The author also presents a therapy team approach, which uses an English speaking licensed professional in conjunction with a Khmer speaking paraprofessional, and both the strengths and challenges of this approach are discussed. The author notes that many agencies that serve refugees may not have professionally trained mental health providers who are from the country of origin of their clients, and suggests that the model outlined holds promise to provide culturally sensitive treatment. However, it is a model that is in its infancy in terms of knowing what works and how to duplicate that to other agencies and populations. This article highlights some of the benefits along with the drawbacks that have been uncovered to date.
Subject terms:
post traumatic stress disorder, refugees, support groups, women, Asian people, ageing, groupwork;
Journal of Social Work Practice, 23(2), September 2009, pp.327-336.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
... that serve refugees may not have professionally trained mental health providers who are from the country of origin of their clients. This model holds promise to provide culturally sensitive treatment. However, it is a model that is in its infancy in terms of knowing what works and how to duplicate that to other agencies and populations. This paper shares some of the benefits as well as some
This paper describes a therapeutic model in which an English-speaking licensed clinician and a bilingual paraprofessional provide psychotherapy using a team approach in working with Cambodian refugee survivors of the Khmer Rouge. The team approach model differs from professionals who use interpreters in psychotherapy. The strengths and challenges of this approach are discussed. Agencies that serve refugees may not have professionally trained mental health providers who are from the country of origin of their clients. This model holds promise to provide culturally sensitive treatment. However, it is a model that is in its infancy in terms of knowing what works and how to duplicate that to other agencies and populations. This paper shares some of the benefits as well as some of the drawbacks.
Subject terms:
interpreting, mental health care, multicultural approach, psychotherapy, refugees, teams;
Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 61(4), 2018, pp.393-410.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
This qualitative study examines eight elder women’s experiences of resettling with their family and the protective factors that enhanced their resiliency. The implications for social work include the need to assess elder refugees’ strengths, resilience, pre-resettlement functioning instead of services that might encourage integration into the dominant culture and community, and that the refugee experience is a lifelong experience that shapes and informs various stages of life.
(Publisher abstract)
This qualitative study examines eight elder women’s experiences of resettling with their family and the protective factors that enhanced their resiliency. The implications for social work include the need to assess elder refugees’ strengths, resilience, pre-resettlement functioning instead of services that might encourage integration into the dominant culture and community, and that the refugee experience is a lifelong experience that shapes and informs various stages of life.
(Publisher abstract)