Abstract
Social work practice with displaced persons requires an understanding and critical examination of a wide range of practice frameworks within the field of humanitarian response, refugee resettlement, and return and reintegration. It is essential for all social workers to engage in challenging and changing the oppressive practice frameworks, such as negative immigration policies and institutions that marginalize people at the same level as responding to displaced persons’ immediate needs. Therefore, training of social workers should critically examine the historical injustices affecting communities and the role of social workers in addressing these inequities. Human rights, social justice, anti-oppressive, and empowerment approaches should guide social workers who are well positioned to lead various levels and fields of practice supporting forcibly displaced people.
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Acknowledgment and Gratitude
The practice of social work and humanitarian response with forcibly displaced persons has a great capacity for improving in areas discussed throughout this book and more specifically in this chapter. Nevertheless, threats to security, safety, well-being, and life for those who were forcibly displaced would be indescribably higher in the absence of systems of response and stakeholders discussed here. As authors and editors of this book, as well as representatives of various fields of practice and experiences in the field, we have witnessed firsthand the dedicated and compassionate response by individuals and institutions striving to stand alongside those marginalized by oppressive systems and impacted by conflicts. Efforts of all those involved to leverage resources, create safety, facilitate healing, and alleviate any resulting trauma and pain are applaudable. There are many people and groups for whom to be grateful for their work to provide safety during the perilous journeys that displaced persons endure, including the people and governments of host countries; the humanitarian and social welfare staff who advocate, coordinate, and fund services; the communities and individuals that welcome displaced people with open arms; and displaced people themselves who persevere, advocate for social change, and teach the rest of the world lessons in resilience, respect for diversity, and humanity. Many model practices have been highlighted throughout this book, and we want to end by acknowledging additional organizations that are engaged in innovative and exemplary practices, as well as invaluable individuals who make up these organizations.
The following organizations have been shared by co-authors based on their personal knowledge or experience. This is by no means an exhaustive list but rather is meant to reflect the wide array of organizations and efforts that are currently in practice and to encourage readers to seek out opportunities for the practical application of knowledge gained through this book:
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ABAAD Resource Center for Gender Equality advocates for the development and implementation of policies and laws that enhance women’s participation and advance gender justice through a rights-based approach in the MENA region (www.abaadmena.org/).
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The African International Collaborative Center supports and empowers African immigrant communities in New York City by providing culturally responsive services, facilitating community-based participatory research and program evaluation, promoting civic engagement, and elevating grassroots organizing (www.africanicc.com).
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AGIR is a community-led organization by and for LGBTQIA+ migrants living in Montreal, providing information, services, programs, and resources, as well as protecting and defending the legal, social, and economic rights of migrants from LGBTQIA+ communities (www.agirmontreal.org).
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The Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project at the Transgender Law Center facilitates community building and political education, creates access to direct services, and organizes across borders to advance the liberation of Black people and build and center the power of Black LGBTQIA+ migrants in the United States (https://transgenderlawcenter.org/programs/blmp).
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Clinique Mauve provides integrated medical, psychological, and sexual health services to LGBTQI+ migrants and persons of different races and ethnicities in Quebec and utilizes peer navigation to conduct outreach, provide information, and facilitate education based on intersectional, trans-affirmative, and trauma-informed approaches to empower service users (www.sherpa-recherche.com/sherpa/projets-partenaires/clinique-mauve/).
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Friends of Kisoro promotes mental health and psychosocial well-being of both acutely displaced refugees and asylum seekers and members of the refugee host community in Uganda. Founded, led, and staffed by social workers, Friends of Kisoro is committed to social justice, advocacy, and client-centered, trauma-informed services (https://www.friendsofkisoro.org/).
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The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which is made up of 193 National Societies, has over 2000 social workers as full-time staff and over 4000 social workers engaged as volunteers in their respective National Societies (www.ifrc.org).
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The International Institute for Community-Based Sociotherapy provides access to community-based sociotherapy for people whose lives are affected by conflict, war, and/or natural disaster, facilitating a group-based approach to strengthen feelings of safety, trust, and dignity while it is restoring the social fabric in impacted communities (https://iicbs.org/).
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MHPSS Collaborative is a global platform for research, innovation, learning, and advocacy, connecting key academic and humanitarian actors in the field of mental health and psychosocial support. They support children and families experiencing climate change, migration and displacement, and crisis and disaster (www.mhpsscollaborative.org).
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Miles for Migrants uses donated frequent flyer miles, credit card points, and cash to help people impacted by war, persecution, or disaster reunite with loved ones and start new beginnings in safe homes (www.miles4migrants.org/).
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PurpLE Health Foundation advances the health of communities by investing in the physical, mental, and financial health of women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence, including domestic violence and human trafficking, by creating a survivor-informed healthcare delivery system (www.purplehealthfoundation.org/).
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RIF Asylum Support was created in 2003 by social worker Maria Blacque-Belair to address a gap in services for asylum seekers in NYC (www.rifnyc.org).
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Social Workers Without Borders is a registered charity that facilitates assessments to support legal applications of asylees and children facing deportations in the UK on a pro bono basis. The organization also supports displaced people in accessing services through direct work, social work education, and implementation of advocacy campaigns (www.socialworkerswithoutborders.org).
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TPO Nepal promotes the psychosocial well-being and mental health of children and families in conflict-affected and vulnerable communities, striving to develop local psychosocial, mental health, and conflict resolution systems that promote community resilience, quality of life, and self-reliance through education, research, service delivery, and advocacy (www.tponepal.org).
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TPO Uganda partners with communities, civil society, private sector, and government to support mental health and socio-economic well-being and sustainability, reduce vulnerability and provide humanitarian assistance in the face of disasters, and promote the rights and safety of women and children (www.topug.org).
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Questscope Za’atari Camp Youth Center engages more than 500 Syrian youth in recreational, educational, artistic/cultural, and psychosocial activities. All programming has been designed and led by the dynamic team of Syrian volunteers inside the camp. The programs embody the empowerment, resilience, and strength-based approach that is participatory and localized based on resources and needs (https://www.questscope.org/en/blog/za’atari-youth-center-space-change).
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Many large organizations, such as the International Medical Corps, the International Rescue Committee, the Medicine Sans Frontier, and many others, use social work models and embody human rights, strength-based, and anti-oppressive values. They train paraprofessionals in the absence of professional social work practitioners to increase access to services for displaced populations.
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Akilova, M. (2023). The Role of Social Work in the Context of Forced Migration: A Global Perspective. In: Murakami, N.J., Akilova, M. (eds) Integrative Social Work Practice with Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Other Forcibly Displaced Persons. Essential Clinical Social Work Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12600-0_21
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