Immigrant integration in the welfare state: Social work's growing arena

This article examines social work with immigrants in the welfare state context. The work is informed by two previous studies on immigrant and refugee integration in Finland and Canada. Taking a holistic perspective on resettlement, social work can be seen as a crucial support and bridging service through transition. Tasks involve active fostering of linkage to promote immigrant participation in the wider society, a mandate that goes beyond that of guaranteeing access to welfare benefits. The thrusts of empowerment for full participation and effective practice of citizenship include capacity building, networking of resources and fighting discriminatory barriers. Resettlement social work has a singular interest in reexamining the State-third sector and professional-paraprofessional divide. It would be to the advantage of the field to broaden the body of official stakeholders and actors, in the context of new partnerships. The immigrant communities hold needed stocks of cultural competence and resettlement experience, which complement areas of professional expertise. Collaborative partnerships could offer social work the possibility to access community-based resources and to reach needs and problems that may otherwise elude the mainstream social work system in the welfare state.