<p>The aim of this study is to examine which factors in the receiving-country that have had an influence on three now adult unaccompanied refugee children. The method used in the study is qualitative interviews with the three above-mentioned participants. The results show that some factors are perceived as helpful, having a positive influence on the participants life while other factors are perceived as worsening, having a negative influence on their life. Depending on the context some factors such as age, the Swedish language and housing arrangements have had both positive and negative influences on their life. Positive factors are among other things: access to good treatment and support, help with processing trauma and bad mental health, help with understanding coherence, access to a social network, family reunification, resilience and other internal factors. Negative factors are among other things: loneliness, feeling of powerlessness, mistakes made by public authority and “the long waiting” until they get a residence permit. The results correspond with previous research findings but have also originated new knowledge that can be added on the current field of research. The results have furthermore been analyzed with theories of risk and resilience, coping and sense of coherence.</p><p>Keywords: unaccompanied refugee children, unaccompanied children, asylum-seeking children /young adolts/adolecenses/minors, resilience, risk and protective factors, coping, sense of coherence (SOC)</p>

The aim of this study is to examine which factors in the receiving-country that have had an influence on three now adult unaccompanied refugee children. The method used in the study is qualitative interviews with the three above-mentioned participants. The results show that some factors are perceived as helpful, having a positive influence on the participants life while other factors are perceived as worsening, having a negative influence on their life. Depending on the context some factors such as age, the Swedish language and housing arrangements have had both positive and negative influences on their life. Positive factors are among other things: access to good treatment and support, help with processing trauma and bad mental health, help with understanding coherence, access to a social network, family reunification, resilience and other internal factors. Negative factors are among other things: loneliness, feeling of powerlessness, mistakes made by public authority and “the long waiting” until they get a residence permit. The results correspond with previous research findings but have also originated new knowledge that can be added on the current field of research. The results have furthermore been analyzed with theories of risk and resilience, coping and sense of coherence. Keywords: unaccompanied refugee children, unaccompanied children, asylum-seeking children /young adolts/adolecenses/minors, resilience, risk and protective factors, coping, sense of coherence (SOC)

The aim of this study is to understand and lighten the interviewees’ descriptions and their experiences of being unaccompanied youths in Sweden. In order to research this, we have analyzed the barriers, opportunities and the strategies they use to become a part of the society but also to strengthen their position in the society. The method we have used is the qualitative method and the data has been gathered by semi structured interviews with six unaccompanied youths. In order to analyze our results we have used symbolic interactionism and Antonovsky’s theory about sense of coherence. The results of the study have shown that most of the interviewees experienced having a difficult first period in Sweden considering the fact that they left their family and their home country to start a new life in Sweden, young and alone. With the use of different strategies, this became better over time as they developed their Swedish language skills, started to study, entered the labor market and expanded their social contact network. At the same time they have faced multiple opportunities to become a part of the society in different ways. They have also faced several barriers which has prevented them of becoming a part of the society and also weakened their position in the society. Therefore they have developed and used different strategies to get through these barriers. The main conclusion is that there are more positive aspects and possibilities than barriers for the unaccompanied youths to feel that they are a part of the society.

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on January 26, 2010 Thesis advisor: Dr. W. Thomas McKenney. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Mus.)--University of Canterbury, 2007. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 425-426). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Inom denna studie har vi intervjuat socialarbetare kring deras upplevelser av samverkan mellan myndigheter och involverade personer i arbetet med ensamkommande flyktingbarn. Studien genomfördes genom semistrukturerade kvalitativa intervjuer, där verksamma socialarbetare inom barn- och ungdomsenheten med specialisering på ensamkommande flyktingbarn intervjuades kring deras upplevelse av samverkansprocesser. Utifrån teoretiska perspektiv som KASAM och human relationsskolan har vi analyserat studiens datamaterial. Redovisning av tidigare forskning, studiens metodologiska utgångspunkter och tillvägagångssätt ges ingående. Resultatet av studien redovisas och analyseras. Slutligen förs en kritisk diskussion där även möjliga tolkningar av resultat diskuteras. Av studiens resultat har vi identifierat socialarbetares upplevelser av hinder för en effektiv samverkan vilket utgörs av fyra faktorer. Studiens resultat visade att samverkan möjliggör för socialarbetaren att skapa ett starkt nätverk för barnet samt ändra barnets negativa syn av myndigheter och vuxna. Samverkan möjliggör även ökad effektivitet och kvalitet i socialarbetarens handläggning där även behovsbedömningen underlättas.

M.A. (Development Studies) / This report evaluates the response of the South African government to migrant unaccompanied minors at Musina and Beitbridge Limpopo province. The report begins by outlining the migration situation at the Beitbridge Border post and the reasons for UAMs‘ migration to South Africa. It also highlights the processesthey follow in migrating, services available and their vulnerability to sexual and gender based violence as they cross the border through irregular routes. The second section outlines the responsibilities of host states in as far as the needs of migrant UAMs are concerned. As this study is focusing on the South African government, the section further develops a narrative informed by international law and the South African Constitution as well as policies and legislationin force in South Africa. This section points to a well developed legal and policy framework for securing the rights of migrant children. The third section concludes by summarising the needs of UAMs and by stating some of the measures that should be implemented by the South African government in responding to the situation. The fourth section of this study presents evidence crucial for evaluation of state responses to its obligations towards UAMs. This section presents evidence gathered over a period of time in Beitbridge and Musina that enables me to evaluate the South African state‘s respond to UAMs in Musina and Beitbridge. The outcomes of this research indicate that South Africa has failed to implement international law and the Constitutional, legal and policy frameworks in as far as the rights of migrant UAMs are concerned. The majority of UAMs are from Zimbabwe and they are running away from social, economic and political instabilities in that country. In addition, these children are migrants in their own right and existing research indicates that where children migrate alone, they are particularly vulnerable to exploitative working conditions, violence and denial of basic rights.Page ix Many children migrated in order to pursue their education as well as to work in order to support themselves and families back home. However, many of the migrant‘s organisations that exist do not specifically address the rights of children or response to their needs. Migrant children‘s ability to satisfy their basic needs is extremely compromised; much of the work is currently done by a few non-governmental organisations and faith based organisations especially with regard to shelter and food provision with very minimal support from the South African government. UAMs have very limited access to government departments and services. The majority of UAMs are crowded in the streets in Musina and others in towns such as Louis Trichardt, Thohoyandou, Dzanini and on farms wherein they fend for their own living and there is no one to cater for their needs. This report concludes by making recommendations for interventions to the South African government for implementing Children‘s rights and strengthening migrant children‘s access to basic rights in South Africa.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur samtalsledarna upplever den utbildning de fåttsamt vad som påverkar arbetet med att bemöta de ensamkommande ungdomarna i frågor kring sex och samlevnad. För att uppnå studiens syfte används en kvalitativ metod i form av två fokusgruppsintervjuer. Varje fokusgrupp bestod av tre samtalsledare som hade gått grundutbildningen. Genom att använda rollteorin analyserades den roll som samtalsledarna skulle gå in i. HVB-hemmet sågs som en integrationsarena där målet med verksamheten var att skapa förutsättningar för de ensamkommande barnens sociala integration i samhället. I resultatet framkom att flera faktorer påverkade möjligheterna att genomföra samtalen med ungdomarna. Samtliga personer som gått utbildningen tyckte att de fått mycket nya kunskaper kring ämnet samtidigt som flera av dem uttryckte att de saknade kunskaper i hur man leder ett samtal i grupp. Flera av samtalsledarna uttrycker en osäkerhet kring vad samtalsledarrollen innebär vilket kopplas till vad rollteorin beskriver som en rollförvirring. Språket och användningen av tolk ansågs som ett hinder, vilket gjorde att de flesta samtalen genomfördes med de ungdomar som kunde det svenska språket så att tolk kunde undvikas. Den nuvarande situationen med ett stort antal ensamkommande ungdomar påverkade också möjligheterna att genomföra samtalen då fokus framförallt låg på att få vardagen att gå ihop. / The aim of the study was to examine how the discussion leaders experienced the education that they have received, and what influences the work to respond to the unaccompanied youth in their questions about sex and relationships. In order to achieve the aim of the study, a qualitative approach was used in the form of two focus group interviews. Each focus group consisted of three discussion leaders who had passed basic training. The role that the discussion leaders would enter was analyzed by using the role theory. The residential homeswere seen as integration arenas where the goal of the agency was to create conditions for unaccompanied children's social integration into society. In the result it emerged that several factors affected the possibilities of implementing the conversation with the unaccompanied youths. All persons who received the education felt that they received much new knowledge about the subject while several of them expressed that they lacked knowledge of how to lead a conversation in groups. Several of the discussion leaders expressed uncertainty about what their role as discussion leader means, this was connect to what the role theory describes as a role confusion. The language and the use of an interpreter were considered as an obstacle, which meant that most of the conversations were conducted with the youths who could speak Swedish so that the interpreter could be avoided. The current situation with a large number ofunaccompanied young people also affected the possibilities of conversations as the focus mainly was to cope with the everyday life. / SESAM

I samband med tillströmningen av flyktingar till Sverige har det uppmärksammats att mottagningssystemet av ensamkommande barn och unga präglas av olika brister. Syftet med denna studie är att ur ett personalperspektiv undersöka hur socialtjänstens mottagande fungerar samt vilka förbättringar som önskas. Detta har studerats med hjälp av barnperspektivet som har utgångspunkt i barndomssociologin. Utifrån fyra intervjuer med socialarbetare framkommer att mottagningssystemet upplevts bristfälligt men att förbättringar på olika nivåer upplevs som genomförbara. Resultatet visar på en önskan om bättre samverkan mellan myndigheter och en förbättrad organisatorisk ledning. Vidare betonas ett behov av mer tid och resurser för att kunna utföra noggrannare utredningar som grundas på barnets bästa och där barnets rättigheter tillvaratas. En mer anpassad metod och tydligare riktlinjer efterfrågas där barnen ges likvärdiga möjligheter samtidigt som dess individuella behov beaktas. Inför framtiden önskas bättre beredskap och bredare kunskap för att möjliggöra ett kvalitetssäkert mottagande oberoende av yttre omständigheter. / In association with the influx of refugees into Sweden, it has been noticed that the reception system of unaccompanied children is characterized by various deficiencies. The purpose of this study is to examine, from a staff perspective, how the reception system within the Swedish social services works, and what improvements are requested. This has been studied and analysed through utilising a child-perspective theory that embodies a part of childhood sociology. Four interviews with social workers show perceptions of the reception system as generally underperforming, although improvements at various levels are perceived achievable. The result also highlights requests for a better interaction among authorities, alongside an enhanced top-management commitment. Moreover, the staff expressed the need of more time and resources in order to carry out thorough investigations based on the child's best interests, in which the child's rights are safeguarded. Besides, a more customised method and clearer guidelines were demanded, where the children are given equal opportunities while taking their individual needs into account. For the future, a request for a better preparation and broaden knowledge was highlighted, which would enable a higher quality of reception’s performance in spite of external circumstances.

Abstract Background:Sweden has in the past year received several thousand unaccompanied minors. The workload for district nurses in primary care has increased drastically . Many of these children have complex needs for healthcare , which places high demands on the district nurse. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe district nurses experiences of caring for unaccompanied refugee children in primary healthcare. Method: The design of the study is qualitative. The data was collected through a convenience and snowball sample and then conducted eight semi-structured interviews . The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis in which the latent content is the core.Results: Three categories were identified ; " The experiences of caring for an unaccompanied refugee children ", " Obstacles in everyday work " and "A desire for change ." The most prominent results was that the district nurses wanted to give a good and equal health care despite many obstacles, and that they had desires of several organizational changes .Conclusion: It takes a lot of a district nurse to care for unaccompanied refugee children. They have both physical and mental injuries, and many of them suffer from severe mental illness as a result of traumatic experiences they had to undergo. By making small changes of the organization the district nurse's work environment would improve and the patients would also get a more secure and equitable care . / Abstrakt Bakgrund: Sverige har det senaste året tagit emot flera tusen ensamkommande flyktingbarn. Arbetsbelastningen för distriktssköterskor inom primärvården har därför ökat drastiskt. Många av dessa barn har komplexa vårdbehov vilket ställer höga krav på distriktssköterskan. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att belysa distriktssköterskors erfarenheter av att vårda ensamkommande flyktingbarn inom primärvården. Metod: Studiens design är kvalitativ. Datan samlades in genom ett bekvämlighets- samt snöbollsurval och därefter genomfördes åtta semistrukturerade intervjuer. Datamaterialet analyserades med en kvalitativ innehållsanalys där det latenta innehållet är kärnan. Resultat: Tre kategorier identifierades; ”Erfarenheter av att vårda ett ensamkommande flyktingbarn”, ”Hinder i det dagliga arbetet” samt ”En önskan om förändring”. Det som genomsyrande resultatet var att distriktssköterskorna ville ge en god och jämlik vård trots många hinder samt att de hade önskningar om flera organisatoriska förändringar. Slutsats: Det krävs mycket av en distriktssköterska som ska vårda ensamkommande flyktingbarn. Barnen har både fysiska och psykiska skador och många av dem lider av svår psykisk ohälsa tilll följd av de traumatiska händelser de tvingats genomgå. Genom små medel kan förändringar av organisationen göras vilket förbättrar distriktssköterskans arbetsmiljö, men patienten får också en mer säker och jämlik vård.