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 Journal of Migration Health and Social Care, 7(3), 2011, pp.120-130.
Publisher:
Emerald
This qualitative study explored the experiences of five refugees from Vietnam integrating into Swedish society. The research examined the ways in which refugees made sense of the dramatic changes that exile involved. The participants were followed over two years in an adult education setting. Analysis revealed three sub-themes: in the hands of authorities/forced to leave home; regarded
This qualitative study explored the experiences of five refugees from Vietnam integrating into Swedish society. The research examined the ways in which refugees made sense of the dramatic changes that exile involved. The participants were followed over two years in an adult education setting. Analysis revealed three sub-themes: in the hands of authorities/forced to leave home; regarded as uneducated and untrained; and lack of balance. These sub-themes indicated a situation that could be interpreted by the concept of sense of coherence (SOC). The comprehensive understanding shows that the prerequisites for a stable SOC were unsatisfactory. The author concluded that there was a need for change, where individuals should be met with a policy that aimed to empower and take into consideration the lived experiences and different components that work together to create an SOC.
Subject terms:
immigrants, refugees, social inclusion, social policy;
Social Work with Groups, 34(3-4), July 2011, pp.219-232.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
This article demonstrates the benefits of employing social group work theory and practice concepts to teaching adult English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. Utilising social group work concepts in the adult ESL classroom is particularly effective because these classes bring together individuals who share a number of common needs despite being of varying ethnicities and originated from multiple regions in the world. The author of this article, a second-year MSW student, traces how his approach to teaching ESL evolved as a result of studying group work. The article looks at how applying pregroup planning concepts, establishing a mutual aid environment, and employing an understanding of group work stage theory enabled the author to transform his ESL classroom into a group-learning environment where language skills were developed and social-emotional needs were met.
This article demonstrates the benefits of employing social group work theory and practice concepts to teaching adult English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. Utilising social group work concepts in the adult ESL classroom is particularly effective because these classes bring together individuals who share a number of common needs despite being of varying ethnicities and originated from multiple regions in the world. The author of this article, a second-year MSW student, traces how his approach to teaching ESL evolved as a result of studying group work. The article looks at how applying pregroup planning concepts, establishing a mutual aid environment, and employing an understanding of group work stage theory enabled the author to transform his ESL classroom into a group-learning environment where language skills were developed and social-emotional needs were met.
British Journal of Social Work, 38(4), June 2008, pp.771-787.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
This paper traces the discursive constructions through which refugees were produced as particular kinds of subjects in US social work discourse in the first half of the 20th century. Prior to the onset of World War 2 the refugee ideal was valorised in social work discourse to both exhort and contest immigration restrictions. In the war years, actual refugees became framed, instead, as the most troublesome immigrants. The many anti-restrictionists among social work's leaders persistently and prolifically opposed problematised constructions of refugees. But through its uncritical uses of the same unstable measures of fitness through which the problematised identities were constructed, the liberal, anti-restrictionist discourse of social work re-inscribed the discourses it sought to counter.
This paper traces the discursive constructions through which refugees were produced as particular kinds of subjects in US social work discourse in the first half of the 20th century. Prior to the onset of World War 2 the refugee ideal was valorised in social work discourse to both exhort and contest immigration restrictions. In the war years, actual refugees became framed, instead, as the most troublesome immigrants. The many anti-restrictionists among social work's leaders persistently and prolifically opposed problematised constructions of refugees. But through its uncritical uses of the same unstable measures of fitness through which the problematised identities were constructed, the liberal, anti-restrictionist discourse of social work re-inscribed the discourses it sought to counter. As a study of the disciplinary construction of a particularly vulnerable identity, and a methodological exemplar for examining key constructs, this analysis has broad implication for study of the many categories of identity (e.g. child, client, etc.) upon which social work builds its practice models and explanatory theories.
DJURETIC Tamara, CRAWFORD Michael J., WEAVER Timothy D.
Journal article citation:
Journal of Mental Health, 16(6), December 2007, pp.743-755.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
London
... of exposures and outcomes in a subsequent epidemiological study. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 asylum seekers, refugees and migrants from the former Yugoslavia. Data were analyzed systematically using the Framework Analysis Method. Participants focussed on impaired social functioning rather than emotional or psychological problems when describing the impact
While limited research has been conducted among displaced people in the UK it is clear that mental health problems in this group are more prevalent than among the general population. The aim was to develop a better understanding of pre and post migration factors that may affect mental health of forced and elective immigrants from the former Yugoslavia and to use data to inform the measures of exposures and outcomes in a subsequent epidemiological study. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 asylum seekers, refugees and migrants from the former Yugoslavia. Data were analyzed systematically using the Framework Analysis Method. Participants focussed on impaired social functioning rather than emotional or psychological problems when describing the impact of their experiences on their health. Concerns were raised about access of secondary care services and the treatment they received within primary care. Preliminary work enabled us to identify the terms people use to describe their experiences, and to generate additional hypotheses on service utilization that will be tested in a subsequent cohort study.
Subject terms:
immigrants, mental health problems, research methods, refugees;
Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies, 4(4), 2006, pp.69-74.
Publisher:
Routledge
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
In this American study, the authors conducted a basic examination of health symptoms of Iraqi immigrants. Participants were solicited within on large Iraqi and Arab American enclave in the Midwestern U.S. through local radio, television, community centers, and religious facilities. The results found that Iraqi Americans, in comparison with their other-Arab American counterparts, experienced higher numbers of health conditions and health symptoms. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
In this American study, the authors conducted a basic examination of health symptoms of Iraqi immigrants. Participants were solicited within on large Iraqi and Arab American enclave in the Midwestern U.S. through local radio, television, community centers, and religious facilities. The results found that Iraqi Americans, in comparison with their other-Arab American counterparts, experienced higher numbers of health conditions and health symptoms. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
This journal is peer-reviewed, international in scope and explores the effects of worldwide migration. Issues covered include immigration policy, health and mental health of immigrants, sociological and/or economic implications of immigration/emigration, business practices in serving immigrants and refugees, present and future programs and services, and other related topics. Articles from
This journal is peer-reviewed, international in scope and explores the effects of worldwide migration. Issues covered include immigration policy, health and mental health of immigrants, sociological and/or economic implications of immigration/emigration, business practices in serving immigrants and refugees, present and future programs and services, and other related topics. Articles from this journal are abstracted and indexed selectively on Social Care Online.
PUMARIEGA Andres J., ROTHE Eugenio, PUMARIEGA Joanne B.
Journal article citation:
Community Mental Health Journal, 41(5), October 2005, pp.581-597.
Publisher:
Springer
The United States is a country of immigrants. With the exception of Native-Americans, every other American is, or descends from, an immigrant. First and second generation immigrant children are the most rapidly growing segment of the American population, with the great majority of this population being of non-European origin. This paper reviews the unique risk factors and mental health needs of our new immigrant populations, as well as treatment and services approaches to address their unique needs.
The United States is a country of immigrants. With the exception of Native-Americans, every other American is, or descends from, an immigrant. First and second generation immigrant children are the most rapidly growing segment of the American population, with the great majority of this population being of non-European origin. This paper reviews the unique risk factors and mental health needs of our new immigrant populations, as well as treatment and services approaches to address their unique needs.
Subject terms:
immigrants, mental health problems, mental health services, refugees;
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 7(2), May 2005, pp.15-23.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
This article describes the development of a popular, multi-lingual self-help booklet for single immigrants and refugees who may require psychological and social support during settlement and adaptation in Canada. First we explain the need for this type of mental health promotion, with reference to immigration patterns in Ontario, Canada, and social determinants of immigrant mental well-being.
This article describes the development of a popular, multi-lingual self-help booklet for single immigrants and refugees who may require psychological and social support during settlement and adaptation in Canada. First we explain the need for this type of mental health promotion, with reference to immigration patterns in Ontario, Canada, and social determinants of immigrant mental well-being. We then describe the collaborative process by which the booklet was developed, and some of the adaptation challenges addressed, offering practical tips for producing similar resources. We conclude that the booklet has been successful because it portrays common psychological adaptation challenges in a relevant context, using accessible language and immigrant voices that affirm lived experiences and offer helpful advice for overcoming problems. We suggest that such health promotion resources are not only helpful for individuals, but may also help engage newcomer communities and others in understanding the complex factors affecting immigrant mental health.
Subject terms:
immigrants, mental health services, refugees, health education;
The Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Services continued as the Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies. The Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies is no longer indexed on Social Care Online.
The Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Services continued as the Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies. The Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies is no longer indexed on Social Care Online.