Applying the resilient perspective at work social with Latin American immigrants in Tarragona. A critical look

Abstract

Although from Social Work recently has been generated an interest in the study of resilience and migration, there is still little research that has linked the study of resilience in immigrants with the social intervention of social workers. Hence, the present work aims to explore if a resilient perspective is applied in the intervention with Latin Americans and to identify some of the main challenges to incorporate more of this perspective in the social intervention with immigrants. The study has been carried out in the province of Tarragona and has used a qualitative methodology, based on one hand in interviews with social workers from public institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), of five areas of intervention where there is more contact with the immigrant population and, on the other hand, through two focus groups done with Latin Americans. Among the main results it is highlighted that although most professionals share the premises of resilience, present in the principles of the profession, they find it difficult to apply them in their practice. In general, its intervention is marked by a dual social construction of the immigrant that moves between victimism overvaluing the difficulties and between a denial of the subjective elements that migration entails. Under this social construction some key elements are analyzed within the intervention with the immigrants and five challenges are pointed out to strengthen the intervention of the social worker with immigrants from a resilient perspective. It concludes by pointing out the need for a serious commitment on the part of professionals, institutions and users to incorporate into professional practice the promotion and enhancement of resilient factors.