Stacey Shaw, Social Work
Successful refugee adaptation to life in the United States (U.S.) has traditionally been measured in terms of economic self-sufficiency and English language acquisition. While these indicators may relate to independence and acculturation, major questions remain about how refugees fare in the U.S. Recent programmatic efforts incorporate attention to integration, wellbeing, empowerment, and mental health, but these concepts are not consistently defined or measured. This mixed methods study involved interviews with refugees who have been in the U.S. for at least 5 years, to examine which outcomes they consider key to their family’s successful adaptation to life in the U.S. BYU undergraduate and graduate student research assistants, involving interpreters when needed, met with refugees to discuss their successes, as well as the factors that helped them reach success. They also examined perspectives and experiences related to integration, the current political climate, community services, family, religion, gender, and overall adaptation.
In-depth interviews were conducted with 92 women and men from the following countries: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Cameroon, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Mynamar, and Bhutan. Participants were diverse in terms of age and were recruited from a variety of community agencies and settings. Data analysis has commenced but is not yet completed, with audio file transcription and open coding currently underway. Initial analyses suggest the interview data explores a variety of themes beyond preliminary areas of interest. For example, differences regarding perspectives of those who came to the U.S. as children and those who came as adults have emerged, as has discussion about the unique environment in Utah. Saturation was achieved on key themes of interest, meaning new data was no longer emerging and additional interviews were not needed. The relatively large sample, for a qualitative study, allows us to examine experiences of sub-groups such as women from a particular country.
To date, 12 students have been involved as paid research assistants in this project, including 5 graduate (M.S.W.) and 7 undergraduate students. Two of the undergraduate students remain involved in the project now as M.S.W. students. Five students are no longer working on the project, most of whom have graduated. Seven students are currently working on the project.
All involved students have gained knowledge of refugee community circumstances and strengths, developed understanding of services and policies related to refugee resettlement, built skills and confidence in conducting research with diverse communities through a stance of cultural humility and respect, developed understanding of qualitative and quantitative research approaches, and collaborated successfully with a research team. The mentoring environment for this project has provided opportunities for leadership. Graduate students and upper level undergraduate students have led in project management, recruitment of participants, and training of new students. Students work together in a collaborative environment where discussion of social issues as well as personal growth and plans for future graduate and other professional work is encouraged. Students involved in the project thus far include Lizzy Schaerr, Adhieu Arok, Laurel Peacock, Brynna Nelson, Miranda Wilcock (undergraduate), Mallory Funk, Allison Barnes (undergraduate and now graduate), and Kaitlin Ward, Beccah Roberts, Ashley Allen, Noelle Bellows, and Samantha Escamilla (graduate students).
Thus far, undergraduate student Lizzy Schaerr has presented initial research findings (“Perspectives on Success Among People Resettled to the U.S. as Refugees: A Preliminary Analysis”) at the BYU Mary Lou Fulton research conference (winter 2018), where she won a Civic Engagement award. In the fall of 2018 she gave an oral presentation at the Civic Engagement conference, and she also shared this research at the Center for Research on Migration and Refugee Integration Symposium on Human Rights at the University of Utah in March 2018.
Additional professional presentations as well as academic articles are to come in 2019 and 2020, and will involve student collaboration in all analysis, writing, and presentation processes. Multiple students, including those listed above and others to be involved in the project in the future, will be co-authors and co-presenters on products from this study. Identified topics of interest for future papers and presentations include refugee perspectives on success, examining the meaning of integration, generational differences in resettlement experiences, current experiences with safety in the U.S., strengths and gaps in resettlement services, the role of religion and religiosity in resettlement services, and other topics. Student involvement in these papers and presentations will be based on interest and availability. Study findings will be used to improve understanding of refugee experiences with U.S. resettlement services including discussion of how services can be improved and how outcomes can be better conceptualized and measured.
Project funds were allocated according to needs during project implementation. Additional students were hired to participate in the project and fewer funds were needed for community research assistants and participant compensation.
