School social work with immigrant and refugee students

Abstract

The number of immigrants and refugees in Maltese islands has increased within the last decade. This has meant also increase in the number of immigrant and refugee students in the Maltese schools. The immigrant and refugee students experience various challenges whilst they attempt to integrate into the local school system. School social workers are one of the professionals who aim to address these challenges, as their role is to enable and maximize all students‟ wellbeing and ability to learn at school. This is a qualitative study which explores the school social workers‟ perception of the immigrant and refugee students‟ challenges in the educational setting. Furthermore this study intends to identify and understand the school social workers‟ perceptions of their role in helping immigrant and refugee students to face those challenges. In-depth interviews were conducted individually with school social workers. The findings of this study are presented in two realms: „school social workers‟ perspective of immigrant and refugee students‟ challenges in the educational setting‟ and „school social workers role in helping immigrant and refugee students‟. The former is divided into six themes. These themes are 1) Language barrier, 2) Adjustment to the new school system, 3) Financial difficulties 4) Lack of family and community support, 5) Adapting to the new culture and 6) Prejudice, racism and discrimination. The latter is divided into five themes. These themes are 1) School social workers as mediators, 2) School social workers as mediators, 3) School social workers as social brokers, 4) Impact of large caseloads to school social work practice and 5) School social work‟s focus on absenteeism. This study suggests school social workers to strengthen their advocate role in their practice with immigrant and refugee students. Furthermore this study encourages school social workers to utilize ecological perspective whilst working with immigrant and refugee students. In addition the study recommends school social workers to critically evaluate their practice mode whilst working with immigrant and refugee students and to take part in on-going training related to cultural issues in order to enhance their cultural competence.