Abstract
Global migration patterns are increasing due to human and environmental causes of displacement. Immigrants or migrants are people who chose to migrate to a new country and forced migrants are those who arrived into a nation but were forced to leave their home. Migration into the U.S. is positive because it offsets low population growth and supports economic engines. It is important to make support available due to the trauma of displacement for these groups.
The first product is a conceptual framework concept called intercultural service coordination, and trauma-informed care with service coordination. This conceptual framework for immigrants and forced migrants includes, short-term, strengths-based, trauma-informed care, in direct practice. Trauma-informed care strives to build upon safety, communications, and emotions. It includes five primary pillars which are healing, hope, trust, transparency, and equity (SAMSHA, 2014). This environment uses cultural humility and competency inherent in the support.
The second product is a secondary analysis of the impact of service coordination on housing access for immigrants and forced migrants from federal fiscal year 2014 to 2018. In this study with immigrants defined as those who chose to come to U.S., and a forced migrant defined as those who are seeking asylum, granted asylum, arrived with refugee status, or are a survivor of human trafficking. The study explores strengths-based service coordination with immigrants and forced migrants.
The third product was a peer reviewed presentation at the Pennsylvania State NASW conference. During the presentation, a program using a strengths-based approach in a trauma-informed environment for immigrants and forced migrants was provided. The conceptual framework, data from JFCS’s 2018 annual’s report, and emerging findings from descriptive statistics and frequency tables were provided and a literature review was provided that demonstrated the need for more research on programs funded to serve immigrants and forced migrants.
The combination of the banded dissertation contains information to build on current research in strengths-based practice for immigrants and forced migration populations. The work includes a conceptual framework, quantitative study using secondary data, and a peer reviewed presentation of the program model in the study. It is the hope that this work adds to the literature and provides a resource for future researchers and practitioners to build upon.