The literature on immigration divides migrants into two distinct categories: immigrants who voluntarily leave their home countries in search of better opportunities, and refugees who are forced to leave because their lives or personal freedom is under threat. However, since many South Africans have emigrated (and continue to do so) because of fears for their safety as a result of the high levels of crime and violence in the country, they could be regarded as "reluctant immigrants" or "anticipatory refugees" (Kunz, cited in Khawaja & Mason, 2008, p. 228). In 2013, South Africans were in the top five source countries for immigrants to New Zealand (Statistics New Zealand, 2013), but they had been the focus of only a few research studies (Meares, 2007, p. 49). A possible reason for this lack of research is the fact that most South Africans are fluent enough in English, are usually able to find employment, and because of cultural and religious similarities, can be integrated with greater ease into New Zealand society (Meares, 2007). Hence researchers probably assume that the settlement experience of South African immigrants in New Zealand is similar to that of skilled immigrants from countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America. This qualitative study sought to explore the immigration journeys of nine South African families living in Wellington, New Zealand, by conducting autobiographical narrative interviews. The goal was to understand their experiences and the outcomes of emigrating from South Africa to New Zealand. The research aimed to describe adaptation across the pre- and post-migration phases and the factors that impacted on the immigration process, as well as acculturation stress, coping strategies and the support systems utilised. Thematic network analysis was used to extract common themes across participant narratives to develop ecomodels for assessment and intervention with South African immigrants in New Zealand. The results of this study confirmed that despite similarities between the two countries, South African immigrants in New Zealand experienced considerable adaptation difficulties. Women, adolescents and older adults were at particular risk of developing psychological problems, such as chronic depression. Additional risk factors were pre-migration trauma, family conflict, emigrating with a visitor's visa, unrealistic expectations, underemployment and financial hardship, marital discord, loneliness and alienation from New Zealand society. Important protective factors were commitment to the immigration process, thorough premigration planning and adequate support upon arrival, equitable employment and financial growth, family cohesion, religious beliefs, a positive mindset, fortitude, a sense of humour, family reunification and social connectedness in New Zealand society. It was recommended that the South African settled community fulfil an active role in supporting newcomers, and that New Zealand policy makers establish systems to foster multiculturalism in New Zealand. / Psychology / D.Litt.et Phil. (Psychology)

La ricerca si pone l’obiettivo di analizzare i servizi consultoriali rivolti alle famiglie/donne migranti nell’ambito delle politiche sociali che rivolgono un’attenzione specifica ai soggetti e alle famiglie della migrazione, osservandoli dal punto di vista del modello relazionale di buone pratiche (Donati P., Prandini R., 2006; Rossi G., Boccacin L., 2007), nell’ambito del Comune di Milano. Sono stati selezionati cinque consultori familiari significativi per il tipo di lavoro realizzato le famiglie immigrate, all’interno dei quali sono stati realizzati gli studi di caso. Gli obiettivi della ricerca sono: • Tracciare un profilo del campione d’ utenza immigrata che accede ai consultori familiari studiati (attraverso la rilevazione quantitativa). • Analizzare le pratiche di lavoro con le donne/famiglie immigrate. In particolare, valutare quanto le pratiche realizzate rispondono ad un modello di progettazione e di attuazione di tipo relazionale, quale posto sia riservato alla famiglia, a quale modello di integrazione si ispira e quale effetto abbia in termini di capitale sociale prodotto (attraverso la rilevazione qualitativa). E’ stata formulata una ipotesi generale, che si declina in tre ipotesi specifiche. Il Consultorio Familiare si configura come un servizio alla persona: 1. quando raggiunge un obiettivo di integrazione delle differenze culturali rispondendo ai bisogni degli utenti immigrati attraverso servizi che riconoscono e promuovono le appartenenze etniche (ad es. i gruppi di accompagnamento alla nascita ai quali partecipano donne di diversa appartenenza etnico - culturale), 2. quando riconosce e si prende cura dei legami familiari dell’utente immigrato (ad esempio estendendo la consultazione a più membri della famiglia), 3. quando realizza un modello relazionale di buone pratiche in quanto genera capitale sociale attraverso l’intreccio di 4 componenti: Efficienza, Efficacia, Integrazione del servizio in una rete di attori, La qualità etica dei fini perseguiti: benessere, protagonismo, empowerment e integrazione della famiglia migrante. L’approccio è multimedodologico per la scelta di più campioni (26 operatori, 4 coordinatori, 120 utenti), per l’utilizzo congiunto di più strumenti, (questionario e intervista) e infine, per quanto concerne l’uso di più metodi di analisi dei dati (quantitativo e qualitativo). In base alla prima ipotesi, il consultorio è un servizio alla persona nella misura in cui è capace di rispondere, con modelli di lavoro differenti, alla specificità della domanda dell’utenza, pur all’interno di un orientamento verso l’assimilazione dell’utenza che spinge verso il livellamento non solo della risposta del servizio, ma anche della domanda dell’utente. In base alla seconda ipotesi, il consultorio famigliare si configura come un servizio, che pur dichiarando un approccio alla famiglia nella mission perseguita, rivolge il proprio intervento al singolo utente o al massimo a diadi familiari. In base alla terza ipotesi, è stato possibile confermare la presenza di singole pratiche di lavoro attivate dagli operatori che rispondono ad un modello relazionale di buone pratiche, in quanto supportando la nascita di nuovi legami sociali e il confronto culturale, generano capitale sociale e promuovono l’integrazione. Dalla ricerca è emerso un quadro composito del complesso rapporto tra servizio consultoriale e utenza immigrata, che necessita di ulteriori approfondimenti di ricerca. / Research object is inquiring consultorio familiare within the frame of social policy. Consultorio familiare will be analysed to the point of good/best practices relational model (Donati P., Prandini R., 2006; Rossi G. , Boccacin L.,2007), in Milan, a city that has high level of immigrants clients. The research intends to define more precisely what kind of ‘good practices’ are realized, especially with regards to the immigrant families. The research aims : • To describe sample of immigrant clients who access to Consultorio familiare through quantitative research method • to shed light on family services related to immigrant families clients, in order to discover how the good practices and the social capital generate, level of family approach, model of integration realized with immigrant families. The observation of family services that are offered in Consultorio familiare, and the analysis of the social capital generation process, has been carried out through the realisation of 5 case studies identified among some experiences qualified as ‘good practices’. Specific hypothesis: Consultorio familiare is “servizio alla persona”: • When it reaches a goal of integration of cultural differences in response to immigrant clients' needs through services that recognize and promote the ethnic membership (eg. Birth groups for women of different ethnic-cultural membership), • when it recognizes and takes care of the immigrant's family ties (eg by extending the consultation to more family members) • When it achieves a relational model of good practice and generates social capital through the intertwining of 4 components: Efficiency, Effectiveness, Integration of service into a network of actors, the ethical quality of the purposes: wellbeing, protagonists, empowerment and integration of the family migrant. For the choice of different samples (providers and clients), as well as for the use of different, (questionnaire and interview) tools, and different (quantitative and qualitative) methods of data analysis, this research is based on a multi-methodological approach. Under the first hypothesis, Consultorio familiare is “servizio alla persona” to the extent is able to respond with different patterns of work to the specific nature of the requests, but in a shift towards user assimilation that leads to the same level of the provider response and the clients demand. Under the second hypothesis, Consultorio familiare is configured as a service, while stating that a family approach is pursued in the mission, it realizes a practice at an individualist or dyadic level, with one client or a maximum of family dyads. With the third hypothesis, it was possible to confirm the presence of specific working practices enabled by the providers responding to a relational model of good practice, supporting the emergence of new social ties and cultural confrontation, generate social capital and promote social integration. The research has shown a mixed picture of the complex relationship between immigrant clients and consultorio familiare, who needs further research investigations.

The literature on immigration divides migrants into two distinct categories: immigrants who voluntarily leave their home countries in search of better opportunities, and refugees who are forced to leave because their lives or personal freedom is under threat. However, since many South Africans have emigrated (and continue to do so) because of fears for their safety as a result of the high levels of crime and violence in the country, they could be regarded as "reluctant immigrants" or "anticipatory refugees" (Kunz, cited in Khawaja & Mason, 2008, p. 228). In 2013, South Africans were in the top five source countries for immigrants to New Zealand (Statistics New Zealand, 2013), but they had been the focus of only a few research studies (Meares, 2007, p. 49). A possible reason for this lack of research is the fact that most South Africans are fluent enough in English, are usually able to find employment, and because of cultural and religious similarities, can be integrated with greater ease into New Zealand society (Meares, 2007). Hence researchers probably assume that the settlement experience of South African immigrants in New Zealand is similar to that of skilled immigrants from countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America. This qualitative study sought to explore the immigration journeys of nine South African families living in Wellington, New Zealand, by conducting autobiographical narrative interviews. The goal was to understand their experiences and the outcomes of emigrating from South Africa to New Zealand. The research aimed to describe adaptation across the pre- and post-migration phases and the factors that impacted on the immigration process, as well as acculturation stress, coping strategies and the support systems utilised. Thematic network analysis was used to extract common themes across participant narratives to develop ecomodels for assessment and intervention with South African immigrants in New Zealand. The results of this study confirmed that despite similarities between the two countries, South African immigrants in New Zealand experienced considerable adaptation difficulties. Women, adolescents and older adults were at particular risk of developing psychological problems, such as chronic depression. Additional risk factors were pre-migration trauma, family conflict, emigrating with a visitor's visa, unrealistic expectations, underemployment and financial hardship, marital discord, loneliness and alienation from New Zealand society. Important protective factors were commitment to the immigration process, thorough premigration planning and adequate support upon arrival, equitable employment and financial growth, family cohesion, religious beliefs, a positive mindset, fortitude, a sense of humour, family reunification and social connectedness in New Zealand society. It was recommended that the South African settled community fulfil an active role in supporting newcomers, and that New Zealand policy makers establish systems to foster multiculturalism in New Zealand. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)