Integration of Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Children in Croatia and Serbia: Perspectives of Social Workers in NGOs

Abstract

Whether to flee conflict, poverty, or persecution, whether with their families or alone, children continue to migrate to Europe in search of protection and a new home. Although the number of asylum seekers in EU countries decreased in 2020 due to the pandemic situation, the phenomenon of child migration did not stop and never will. Thus, the need for sustainable and successful integration, a topic that is being debated a lot across borders. What is the role social workers play in this process? How do professionals working with migrant children understand integration? Through 6 semi-structured interviews with social workers from non-governmental organizations in Croatia and Serbia, this study aims at investigating their perspectives and experiences and learning about their contribution to the integration process of the children they work with. Findings show how the social workers’ stance on their role is in line with their definition of integration. Participants suggest a diverse, multilevel understanding of integration and for each dimension they identified related needs, with particular attention to education and socialization, and obstacles as well, among which lack of access to quality education and discrimination were acknowledged as areas for improvement. For integration, the role of the host society is a key concern. Social worker warned from children’s preference for assimilation and how discriminative behavior and neutral attitude from the society’s side can negatively impact integration prospects. Besides that, a positive contribution of the participants’ role and practice to the integration of their young service users emerged too. This study documents the potential of the profession in integration on three sides: 1) support in the adaptation to the new environment by provision of information and resources to the child based on their needs; 2) improvement in the number and quality of the child’s interactions with the social environment by involvement and education of the host community and creation of spaces for positive encounters; 3) fulfillment of the child’s rights through activity of advocacy, mediation, and assistance. With regards to the challenges faced in their everyday practice, social workers indicated a need for additional support when working with unaccompanied migrant children, as well as clearer standards and guidelines for the profession of social work with migrants. Future professionals will have to be prepared to work with this group of people and acquire the necessary skills and knowledge, and possibilities for ongoing development of expertise should be provided. Areas for enhancement include cooperation between non-governmental and governmental sector, as well as collaboration among professionals and involvement of social workers in other relevant fields such as education. Overall, this study presents social workers as a great resource for the integration of migrant children and suggests valuing this profession in the non-governmental sector alike.