Expert Estimation of Effectiveness of Social Work with Migrants in Russian Government Institutions and Non-Profit Organizations

Abstract

Introduction. The main challenge faced by many migrants is problems arising during the integration in host communities. Social work with migrants and their families in Russia is an important area. However, up to now, a systematic understanding of what methods of social works used in government institutions and non-profit organizations with migrants are effective is still lacking. The purpose of the research is to study the state of social work with migrants in Russia and to identify the risk factors and the problems in the course of adaptation and integration of migrants into Russian society.Methodology and sources. Data for this study were collected using the qualitative method of a survey to assess the practices of social work with migrants. Semi-structured interviews (30 interviews) were conducted in 2017–2019 in St Petersburg, Moscow and Kazan with employees of professional centers for work with migrants, scientists specializing in the study of migration processes in their various aspects, and organizers of regular events (seminars, conferences) on this topic. Sampling was formed using the snowball method to select the most qualified specialists and practitioners. The number of interviews made it possible to cover various areas of social work with migrants, both in government structures and in non-profit organizations, and to examine both the practice of social work and the management sphere. Processing of results was conducted using the method of expert assessments.Results and discussion. According to the results of interviews, authors identify that the effectiveness of the social works in this sphere is determined by different components of integration with the host community: legal literacy of foreign citizens, increasing their legal security, improving access to health care and education, to housing and the labor market, improving the professional skills of migrants and their knowledge of the Russian language, history and socio-cultural foundations of Russian society.Conclusion. Based on expert assessments, the most effective practices of social work with migrants in the process of adaptation were identified: legal advice, orientation courses, mobile counseling points where migrants can get advice from a social worker, a lawyer, and a doctor, and mobile applications integrated with state and non-state organizations. The results obtained show that the role of non-profit organizations (national cultural organizations for the preservation and development of cultures, the House of Friendship of Peoples) is growing.