LIRS LEARNING SESSION AND DISCUSSION ON IMMIGRANT/REFUGEE INTEGRATION

Transcription

1 LIRS LEARNING SESSION AND DISCUSSION ON IMMIGRANT/REFUGEE INTEGRATION Kien Lee, Ph.D. & Julia Lee, Ph.D. Cmmunity Science 438 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 315 Gaithersburg, MD (301)

2 Intrductins If yu had t write a shrt stry abut immigrant/refugee integratin fr a children s bk, what wuld that stry be?

3 Sample f Research and Evaluatin Studies n Immigrant/Refugee Integratin

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5 Overview A break frm assimilatin theries Study f aspects f I/R integratin Crss-sectinal studies Increasing attentin t benchmarking studies in the U.S. and in Eurpe Integratin int what?

6 Factrs that Cntribute t Mental Health Well- Being f Refugee Children Risk Factrs Child s r family s expsure t vilence Physical, psychlgical, r develpmental disrders Family cmpsitin (single-parent, r changes in cmpsitin) Prtective Factrs Family chesin and perceptin f high parental supprt Parental mental health Reference: Fazel, M. et al. (2012). Mental health f displaced and refugee children resettled in highincme cuntries: risk and prtective factrs. Lancet, 379,

7 Research n Unaccmpanied Alien Children Limited research, mstly n mental health issues, especially PTSD and trauma-related issues Challenges: Lack f scial relatinships and familial system at a crucial develpmental perid Jurney t hst cuntry Cultural differences Services and benefits available vary based n their legal status Need fr: Develpmentally and psychlgically apprpriate legal supprt Best interests f the child apprach in immigratin prceedings Child advcates Reference: Center fr Gender & Refugee Studies & Kids in Need f Defense (2014); Huemer et al. (2009)

8 Ethnic Identity amng Immigrant Children and Children f Immigrants Strng ethnic identity related t: Psychlgical well-being (e.g., self-esteem; psitive self-evaluatin; psitive feelings abut ne s grup; psychlgical adjustment) Academic achievement References: Bwman & Hward (1985); Liebkind (1996); Nesdale, Rney, & Smith (1997); Phinney et al. (1997); Phinney et al. (2001); Rumbaut (2005); Zhu & Bankstn (1994)

9 Other Factrs n the Well-Being f Immigrant Children and Children f Immigrants Legal status Intergeneratinal cnflict Impact f racism, attitudes twards immigrants Supprt in c-ethnic cmmunities Opprtunities fr wrk Cmmunity services Ability t mve cmfrtably between tw cultures N best acculturative style r scial supprt netwrk, really depends n cntext References: Birman, Trickett & Buchanan (2005); LaFrmbise et al. (1993; Prtes& Rumbaut (2001); Rumbaut (2005); Rumbaut & Kmaie (2010); Szapcznik & Williams (2000); Tummala-Narra & Claudius (2013)

10 Scial Capital Amng Refugee Wmen Scial capital had a psitive impact n wmen s mental well being, thrugh reducing feelings f islatin and depressin Bnding capital: interactin with an individual s wn ethnic grup Bridging capital: netwrks with lcal peple thrugh faith-based netwrks r refugee cmmunity rganizatins enabled wmen t learn mre and better understand the life in the UK as well as build friendships and gain access t advice and guidance and access t resurces Reference: Gdsn, L. J. & Phillimre, J. (2008). Scial capital and integratin: The imprtance f scial relatinships and scial space t refugee wmen. Internatinal Jurnal f Diversity in Organizatins, Cmmunities and Natin, 7 (6),

11 Welcming America Evaluatin Mre pprtunities fr immigrants and receiving cmmunity members t meet and learn abut immigrants histries and stries Disseminatin f psitive messages abut immigrants and refugees Incrpratin f welcming strategies int prgrams Supprtive lcal rdinances (e.g., reversal f an English-nly bill, welcming reslutins passed) Ptential challenges Dynamic between the African-American cmmunity and immigrant cmmunity Dynamic between 2 nd r 3 rd generatin Americans and newer immigrants Engaging individuals in rural cmmunities

12 Evaluatin f The Clrad Trust Immigrant Integratin Initiative Change the way receiving cmmunity and immigrant leaders and rganizatins cllabrate t implement prgrams, build a sense f shared respnsibility fr the entire cmmunity s well-being, and change the way systems supprt immigrants. Mst activities targeted the individual and rganizatinal levels nly. Change at the cmmunity and systems levels was hardest t effect as it required strnger cmmunity rganizing and plicy advcacy skills. Grantees largely perceived systems change as immigratin refrm.

13 Evaluatin f The Clrad Trust Immigrant Integratin (cnt d) Perceptins abut wh is and is nt an immigrant and class differences cmplicated the wrk. Discmfrt in dealing with grup labels based n race, ethnicity and class. The wrkplace was ideal fr integratin activities. Because immigrant integratin wrk is cmplex, grantees needed extensive help t set realistic expectatins, take incremental actins, fcus their energy and resurces, and even achieve small wins.

14 LIRS Higher Prgram s Emplyer-Refugee Emplyee Study Mixed perceptins abut refugees amng emplyers, frm indifference t psitive attitudes, depending n persnal experiences. Scial supprt refugee rganizatins play a big rle in facilitating emplyers hiring f and psitive experiences with refugee wrkers. Language barriers, gender differences and rles, and religius needs were frequently reprted challenges by emplyers. Language, wrk culture differences, and transprtatin were frequently reprted challenges by emplyees.

15 LIRS Higher Prgram s Emplyer-Refugee Emplyee Study (cnt d) Sme refugees did nt even cnsider emplyment in their frmer prfessins. Time and mney stand in their way f a further educatin. Refugees wh cme t the U.S. with higher educatin were mre difficult t place r required different types f assistance than the general refugee ppulatin. Three cntextual factrs affect refugee emplyment: The ecnmy, which culd affect jb cmpetitin and attitudes f nnrefugees twards certain types f jbs Extent t which the surrunding cmmunity is welcming Diversity and value f diversity f the wrkplace

16 Educatin Spatial Integratin Ecnmic Security Examples f Cmmn I/R Integratin Measures Individual Organizatin Cmmunity Emplyment Emplyability Self-sufficiency Sense f safety Sense f stability Match between size f huse and family size Cultural and linguistic cmpetency Staff prfessinal develpment Bard, partner, and vlunteer educatin Service accessibility Cmmunity relatins and engagement Service prvisin Data cllectin and use Envirnment and infrastructure Vcatinal and jb training prgrams Small business supprt Match between skills and jb availability/wrkfrce pipeline Safe, affrdable husing Integrated husing develpments and neighbrhds Strength f ethnic enclaves Pathways t hme wnership Language skills Sense f identity Self-esteem Academic achievement Cmmunity rganizing and advcacy capacity Cllabrative and crsssectr leadership Inclusive and welcming schls Afterschl supprt

17 cial Cnnectins/ Psychlgical Wellbeing Citizenship and Rights Health and Wellbeing Examples f Cmmn I/R Integratin Measures (cnt d) Individual Organizatin Cmmunity Self-care management Prper use f health care services Healthy behavirs and practices Use f legal and welfare benefits Sense f being treated with respect and fairness Degree f bnding, bridging, and linking Sense f cmmunity r belnging Planning fr the future Feelings f being settled Cultural and linguistic cmpetency Staff prfessinal develpment Bard, partner, and vlunteer educatin Service accessibility Cmmunity relatins and engagement Service prvisin Data cllectin and use Envirnment and infrastructure Cmmunity rganizing and advcacy capacity Cllabrative and crsssectr leadership Culturally and linguistically cmpetent health care system Access t affrdable and quality health care Length f asylum applicatin prcedure fr successful claimants Rates f applicatin fr citizenship Inclusive, safe, and welcming cmmunities Strength f ethnic enclaves

18 Questins and Discussin

19 Sample f Immigrant and Refugee Integratin Framewrks and Mdels

20 GRANTMAKERS CONCERNED WITH IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES (GCIR) Dynamic, tw-way prcess in which newcmers and receiving cmmunity members wrk tgether t build vibrant, secure, and chesive cmmunities. Six strategic pathways t fster and supprt immigrant integratin: Intentinal and inclusive cmmunity planning English language prficiency and equal access t educatin pprtunities Health, well-being, and ecnmic pprtunity Fair laws and plicies t ensure equal treatment and pprtunity Scial and cultural interactin Citizenship and civic participatin A tlkit published in

21 Cmmunity Science I/R Framewrk Scial/cultural Immigrant Psychlgical Ecnmic Receiving cmmunity member Immigrant Organizatins Immigrant Cmmunity Spatial Civic/plitical Receiving Cmmunity Organizatins Receiving Cmmunity Jint actin, cllective impact, & changes in plicies and practices EQUITY

22 Center fr Immigrant Integratin Studies (University f Califrnia San Dieg) I/R Integratin Framewrk Imprved Ecnmic Mbility Receiving Cmmunity Openness Enhanced Civic Participatin Ecnmic Snapsht husing, wrkfrce preparatin, wrkfrce strength, incme, and access Ecnmic Trajectry Hw immigrants have dne ver time Warmth f Welcme media messaging, ability f high schls t prepare English learners fr life in the U.S., cverage f immigrant-serving rganizatins, civic infrastructure fr naturalizatin, and supply f English language learning curses. Civic Engagement language skills, which can affect an immigrant s ability t participate in civic prcesses, and citizenship rates f immigrants, which enable participatin in vting.

23 The White Huse Immigrant Integratin Framewrk Linguistic Integratin Nn-English prficient individuals have acquired the necessary English language skills and related cultural knwledge t be able t meaningfully cntribute t their cmmunity. Ecnmic Integratin Emplyers are able t attract and retain the best talent, when bth emplyers and immigrant wrkers understand their rights, and the immigrant wrkers have the resurces t excel and btain ecnmic and financial self-sufficiency. Civic Integratin All cmmunity members belng, are secure in their rights, exercise their liberties, and share wnership in the cmmunity and the natin s future.

24 US Dept. f Educatin, Office f Career, Technical, and Adult Educatin, Netwrks fr Integrating New Americans Initiative Civic Organizatin Emplyees Receiving Cmmunity Members Adult Educatin and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) Funded Organizatins Cmmunity Clleges Immigrants Schls Civic Integratin Linguistic Integratin Ecnmic Integratin

25 The United Natins Refugee Agency (UNHCR) I/R Integratin Framewrk Legal Dimensin Legal framewrk in which refugees gradually attain a wider range f rights in the hst state pssibly, but nt necessarily, leading t full citizenship and naturalizatin. Ecnmic Dimensin Enabling refugees t establish sustainable livelihds and a standard f living cmparable t their hst cmmunity. Scial Dimensin Utilizes scial and cultural framewrks t enable refugees t access educatin and scial services, participate in the scial fabric f the cmmunity, and develp a sense f belnging.

26 Ager & Strang (2008) I/R Integratin Framewrk

27 Welcming America (WA) I/R Integratin Framewrk Create a welcming atmsphere cmmunity by cmmunity in which immigrants are mre likely t integrate int the scial fabric f their adpted hmetwn thrugh Lcal leadership develpment Strategic cmmunicatins Public engagement/cntact

28 Cmmunity Science

29 What are the Similarities and Differences Acrss Framewrks and Mdels? Similarities Fcus n creating healthy, vibrant, and chesive cmmunities Emphasis n husing, health, ecnmic security, civic participatin, and scial cnnectins Differences Linguistic integratin is nt mentined in all f them Legal dimensin and citizenship is explicit in refugee integratin framewrks

30 Educatin Spatial Integratin Ecnmic Security Wuld Yu Change these Integratin Measures? Individual Organizatin Cmmunity Emplyment Emplyability Self-sufficiency Sense f safety Sense f stability Match between size f huse and family size Cultural and linguistic cmpetency Staff prfessinal develpment Bard, partner, and vlunteer educatin Service accessibility Cmmunity relatins and engagement Service prvisin Data cllectin and use Envirnment and infrastructure Vcatinal and jb training prgrams Small business supprt Match between skills and jb availability/wrkfrce pipeline Safe, affrdable husing Integrated husing develpments and neighbrhds Strength f ethnic enclaves Pathways t hme wnership Language skills Sense f identity Self-esteem Academic achievement Cmmunity rganizing and advcacy capacity Cllabrative and crsssectr leadership Inclusive and welcming schls Afterschl supprt

31 cial Cnnectins/ Psychlgical Wellbeing Citizenship and Rights Health and Wellbeing Wuld Yu Change these Integratin Measures? (cnt d) Individual Organizatin Cmmunity Self-care management Prper use f health care services Healthy behavirs and practices Use f legal and welfare benefits Sense f being treated with respect and fairness Degree f bnding, bridging, and linking Sense f cmmunity r belnging Planning fr the future Feelings f being settled Cultural and linguistic cmpetency Staff prfessinal develpment Bard, partner, and vlunteer educatin Service accessibility Cmmunity relatins and engagement Service prvisin Data cllectin and use Envirnment and infrastructure Cmmunity rganizing and advcacy capacity Cllabrative and crsssectr leadership Culturally and linguistically cmpetent health care system Access t affrdable and quality health care Length f asylum applicatin prcedure fr successful claimants Rates f applicatin fr citizenship Inclusive, safe, and welcming cmmunities Strength f ethnic enclaves

32 Questins?

33 Discussin Hw is the LIRS Thery f Change similar r different frm the framewrks and mdels we reviewed?

34 Small Grup Activity Get tgether with yur clleagues frm the same prgram Cnsider the children, yuth, and their families yur prgram serves 1. Where and hw might yur prgram fit in the LIRS Thery f Change? 2. Cnsidering the integratin utcmes stated in the Thery f Change, what wuld yu d differently in yur prgram, if anything at all, t achieve them?

35 Large Grup Discussin 1. With the knwledge shared tday, what shuld CSU s future directin be related t I/R integratin? 2. What wuld success lk like? 3. Where are yur strengths currently? 4. Where are the gaps? What else d yu need (e.g., knwledge, skills, tls, partnerships, etc.)?

36 Wrap-Up and Next Steps 1. What are the key takeaways fr yu? 2. What s next?