Role of Social Work in the Integrating Refugee and Immigrant Children into Schools

Abstract

Refugee children who are victims of ongoing wars and conflicts around the world is one of the most vulnerable groups that require international legal protection and professional intervention. Wars and conflicts have forced millions of children to leave their countries and displacements to neighboring countries, accompanied by their families or unaccompanied. However, the problems and trauma experienced by children during a period of asylum, or after is not less than of those experienced in an environment of war and conflict. This stage is one of the critical stages that affect a child's growth. It requires from the host countries meeting the necessary needs of children and developing therapeutic, rehabilitative and preventive programs as well as psychological and social support programs. Problem of education is one of the most important problems facing the vast majority of refugee children, there are millions of refugee children are deprived of the right to education as indicated in the reports prepared on this issue. Therefore most of the host countries are developing programs that aims to integrate refugee children into schools and to protect their rights to education. Since social work is considered as the most important professions that play an active role in the integration process. This is through the direct practice with refugee and immigrant students and their families and the surrounding environment as well as cooperation with governmental and nongovernmental institutions in this area. This paper will discuss the role of school social work in dealing with refugee childrens’ problems in the school and facilitate their integration. In light of this discussion this research will give suggestions to develop the performance of the school social worker during the integration process.