Transnational knowledge in social work programs: Challenges and strategies within assisted voluntary return and reintegration support

Abstract

The nexus between migration research and social work research led to interesting impulses to study transnational social work practices. However, the practical terms of being involved in crossborder programs are understudied. This article aims to transcend the preserving national and western-centric orientation in social work research by investigating assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR) support. Drawing on interviews and group discussions with social workers supporting returnees in host countries and countries of origin, I set out to reveal the challenges that this practice poses within the Belgian AVRR program. The findings showed that the Belgian social workers were confronted with a lack of transnational knowledge to fulfill their roles, resulting from a division between different practitioners within the support chain and the localization of the main focus of the support across borders. Furthermore, the data shed light onto the struggles with regard to social workers' positions within the program and towards its goals. For the Belgian social workers, this is related to their place within a restrictive migration policy. For the social workers in the countries of origin it was mainly linked to the transnational character of the program. Viewing these findings, I reflect on their implications for the provision of AVRR support and transnational support practices.

Re-Balancing the Reintegration Process and the Potential of Mentoring for Returnees: Evidence from Senegal, Guinea and Morocco

“…One of the key critiques of social work in relation to migration and return — again, albeit focused on immigration contexts — is the lack of transnational knowledge which social workers have about mobility and return contexts, which leave them unable to provide informed assistance to those considering return (Carr, 2014 ; Lietaert, 2017 , 2019 ). However, our research shows that the mentors in Guinea, Senegal and Morocco have a nuanced understanding of the transnational aspirations of returnees as well as the challenges of attempted migration to Europe and the difficulties of reintegration after a perceived ‘failed’ migration project.…”

“…Little has been published on the role of social workers in relation to reintegration. What is available focuses on social workers’ potential role in preparing people for AVRR (Carr, 2014 ; Lietaert, 2017 , 2019 ). However, we can draw upon research that has explored the role of social workers in migrants’ integration and see whether this can be applied to a return-migration context.…”

“…An additional challenge to combining the local and the global is that, whilst there is a growing awareness of transnational social work (e.g. Lyons, 2015 ) — opening the possibility of linking social work and migration issues beyond the sovereign limits of one nation — to capitalise upon it, social workers need to understand the effects and experiences of migration, which not all do (Lietaert, 2017 ; Lyons, 2015 ). Similarly, migrants and the organisations representing them need to trust in the potential of social workers as enablers, while social workers need to understand why migrants may distrust their motives, especially where the migrant has an insecure status and the social worker is perceived as a government employee.…”

“…Also, despite discussion of the possibilities of transnational social work, it remains rare for a reintegration support project to operate both before and after return, although this is gradually changing with a growing awareness of the way in which pre-return support can aid reintegration. 5 Where efforts are made, a lack of communication between social workers in different locations raises challenges for coordinated transnational social work, as Lietaert ( 2017 ) found in her research with Belgian social workers attempting to provide transnational support to migrants/returnees. It is also clear that, in some cases, the physical context of return is simply not conducive to significant pre-return or transnational reintegration support — the case with our Guinean and Senegalese interviewees being returned from Libyan prisons.…”

Trading Liberty: Assisted Repatriation in Liberal Democracies

“…Scholars have also assessed the sustainability of assisted repatriation, particularly in a European context (DeBono 2016; Hammond 2014; Scalettaris and Gubert 2019). Such research tends to examine country-specific schemes, including those of Norway, Belgium and the UK (Lietaert 2017; Oeppen and Majidi 2015; Strand et al 2016). Some have questioned the voluntary nature of financially induced returns (Blitz et al 2005; Dünnwald 2013; Webber 2011), while others debate the ethical basis of such policies (Gerver 2017).…”