Reception Social Services for Migration Families in Italy: Strength, Critical Aspects, and Challenges

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this research is to investigate the perception that migrant families and social workers have of their relationship and of the services offered and received in the reception path. Method: The qualitative research involved thirty parents with semi-structured family interviews and their twelve reference social workers, with focus group. The collected materials were transcribed verbatim and analysed through the grounded theory, using the NVivo software. Results: Results highlighted strengths, critical issues and challenges, some shared between social workers and families, like the sense of mutual trust and the perception of abandonment and loneliness. Others were expressed only by social workers as a greater attention to families, or by families as the possibility of social-health services. Conclusion: Many of the practical implications have been discussed such as the supervision of social workers, the widespread hospitality and the development of skills of social workers but also of families for social and work integration.

Introduction: Special Issue on Global Approaches to Family Social Work Research

“…This study recognizes a need for indigenous approaches as alternatives to the top-down implementation of development policies. Coppola et al (2021) in their study hoped to understand the perception of migrant families of the level of service received in their host country, Italy, upon arrival. In the article, "Reception Social Services for Migration Families in Italy: Strength, Critical Aspects, and Challenges," qualitative data collected through focus-group interviews with social workers and semi-structured interviews with migrant families are presented.…”