Chapter 9 Chapter Overview & Learning Objectives

Chapter Summary

This chapter introduces students to the needs and issues facing refugee and immigrant clients. Starting with an overview of trends in migration to Canada, students will learn to identify the various categories of migrants (economic immigrants, refugees, refugee claimants, temporary foreign workers, undocumented migrants, etc.) and to understand patterns of migration over time. This understanding will be enhanced in the following section, which examines historical approaches to immigration and provides an overview of policies at various levels affecting migration.

Having established the historical and policy contexts of migration, the chapter then moves on to discuss the role that social workers can play in supporting migrants to Canada. The authors examine a variety of theoretical approaches to working with migrants: ecological systems theory, strengths and empowerment approaches, culturally integrative approaches, and the stages of migration framework. Students will learn to identify how each approach contributes to supporting immigrant and refugee populations and will form a basic understanding of key concepts related to resettlement in a new country, including the differences between integration, acculturation, and assimilation.

The chapter then examines factors that affect migrant settlement and integration, helping students to understand the role of both individual- and systemic-level influences. Factors discussed include goals and expectations, employment and education, language, health, housing, and social supports. A brief summary of social supports and service provisions for immigrants and refugees is also provided.

The chapter concludes with a discussion of particular groups among the general migrant population that may require distinct supports. Those identified include women, victims of trafficking, unaccompanied or separated minors, LGBTQ individuals, older adults, individuals with disabilities, and survivors of torture.

Learning Objectives

The goal of this chapter is to do the following:

1. Appreciate the international, social, political, and economic factors that lead people to leave their countries of origin.
2. Identify similarities and differences among various migrant groups.
3. Recognize how Canadian immigration policies shape settlement.
4. Have an increased sensitivity to experiences of social injustice, prejudice, racism, and discrimination encountered by members of certain migrant groups.
5. Identify groups within foreign-born populations that have particular needs.
6. Appreciate how practitioners’ cultural values, beliefs, and attitudes influence their work with immigrant and refugee clients.
7. Develop culturally and linguistically relevant social work practice for working with immigrant and refugee clients.
8. Identify and access community, provincial, and national resources including periodicals, databases, and websites designed to help professionals working with immigrants and refugees.