Integration or Building Resilience: What Should the Goal Be in Refugee Resettlement?

Publication Date

January 2018

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies

Volume

16

Issue

4

DOI

10.1080/15562948.2017.1358409

First Page

413

Last Page

429

Abstract

The article presents a qualitative study of 110 providers and administrators of refugee services from four countries: United States, Switzerland, Germany, and Iceland. Of the total participants, 28 were male and 82 were female. The sample consisted of 83 social workers who provided direct services to refugees and 27 administrators who managed the programs. The interviews occurred over a period of 3 years from January 2014 to January 2017. The participants described what they perceived to be the goals of resettlement and the successful outcomes of their work with refugees. Findings show that providers and administrators varied in what they believed to be the goals and outcomes, with three main differences emerging: (1) lessening the transition burden; (2) acquisition of language and securing self-sufficient employment; and (3) enhancing the integration of resilience within the refugee. These differences are discussed in terms of how they differ in resources required and in outcomes. The implications of these differences are addressed.

Keywords

refugee, resettlement, providers, administrators, Iceland, Germany, Switzerland, United States, language, employment, resilience, support services

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