Social Capital and Refugee resettlement in East Tennessee

By health Health Fletcher Njororai, PhD Postdoctoral Research Associate University of Tennessee, Department of Public Denise Bates, PhD, RRT, CHES University of Tennessee, Department of Public

Introduction

 Burundian refugees in Knoxville first arrived in 2006 having spent almost their entire lives (or were born) in Tanzanian refugee camps.

 Lived in Tanzania since 1972 and more joined in at different points in time over the years.

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Introduction cont.

   Globally, over 500,000 Burundians have been granted refugee status In 2006, 10,000 Burundians were approved for asylum to the US. Since 2007, the US has received over 8,000 Burundian refugees.

Most of the Burundian refugees arrived with little exposure to education and they are also illiterate in their own national language, Kirundi © Fletcher Njororai 3

Healthy Transitions

 Healthy Transitions (originally

Healing Transitions

)- is an initiative by UT grounded in Community Based Participatory (CBPR) approach in helping understand the Burundians’ migration and resettlement experiences in Knoxville.

 Broader aim is to explore factors contributing to health disparities among Burundian refugees in Knoxville (and eventually US in general) focusing on implications for policy and health interventions.

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Social capital

    Concept of social capital encompasses three central aspects :    networks (bridging, bonding, linking).

Reciprocity and trust Norms and values

Social capital is dichotomous- can be a solution to a problem or could be part of the very problem.

Context-specific because creation and utilization of social networks is influenced is primarily an outcome of contextual factors.

Social capital- not a panacea to all social and health problems nor, and integration of refugees .

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Types of Social Capital

 Bonding – Strong ties in terms of shared social identity within (homogeneous group, ethnicity, extended family, neighborhood, social class).

  Bridging – Weak but important connections outside one’s own tight group(different ethnicities, social class, neighborhoods, acquaintances)- links to external assets/resources.

Linking-

Vertical ties between people across power and authority gradients (considered very important for those considered poor or marginalized and without links to a systems formal institutions).

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Significance of Social capital

   Availability and use of social networks/ties makes a difference in individual and community well-being in many ways – increased mental health, overall better quality of life, immigrant integration, employment placement and mobility, aging well, reduced crime, and capacity to receive public health service interventions, etc.

Negative outcomes of social capital have also been documented including social exclusion, isolation, poverty, lack of social mobility, increased crime etc.

Both strong co-ethnic networks and strong connections in the broader community are important for refugee successful integration. © Fletcher Njororai 7

Methodology

 6 focus groups were conducted (2 for women, 4 for men) (n= 39) between November 2008 – July 2009.

 Community forum was organized for verification of data collected and clarification of any concepts and words (69 adult participants, 6 students, 2 translators).

 Atlas.ti was used for thematic data analysis © Fletcher Njororai 8

Findings

       Pre-occupied with family re-unification with those left behind crucial for resettlement and peace of mind – families separated and structure disrupted.

Inadequate information or misinformation pre-immigration and during the resettlement process – hardships and disillusionment, social exclusion, mental problems.

Language barriers and illiteracy Cultural shock, identity crisis and stigma and discrimination Family upheavals and kinship ties weakened or lost.

Disconnect from the service providers and host community Mistrust amongst their very own- tribal differences (Tutsis/Hutu) © Fletcher Njororai 9

Findings cont.

 Structural challenges:  Language barriers   Lack of credentials and job experience unemployment and poverty Aged people isolated and facing extreme hardships –excluded from welfare    Indiscriminate policies – autonomy and self sufficiency Over 18 year-olds leave family home Difficult neighborhoods –Isolated or far from amenities © Fletcher Njororai 10

Findings structural challenges cont.

        Disconnect with the resettlement agency and service providers including school system. Unequal/ differential treatment compared to other refugee groups.

Unable to read/get drivers licenses – lack of translators as in other states. Lack of a ‘voice’ – Need for representation and advocacy Broken promises – mistrust of the system Abandoned – mental stress and depression Unable to cope with pressures and life’s demands A strong desire to go back to Africa © Fletcher Njororai 11

Structural challenges

    No prior information about air-ticket repayment until on arrival –stressful Systemic dependence on the relief agencies indicated on need for prolonged support Feelings of powerlessness, apathy and desperation – ‘orphaned’.

Anxiety – fear for their children’s future, possible homelessness, crime © Fletcher Njororai 12

Discussion

 Bonding social capital- lacking among the Burundians yet critical for their resettlement and integration (increased disillusionment):     Could not have peace until their family members left behind who were promised asylum are brought.

Burundian people were helpful only to those in their household and people did not share useful information freely (there exist some tribal differences between Tustis/Hutus).

Preferred to stay with their own problems because they did not trust other people Family meant staying even with children older than 18 years as done in Africa but the policies and system here do not support this in terms welfare and other benefits.

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Discussion

 Bridging social capital – lacking for the Burundians impacting knowledge, access and utilization of external resources and assets exacerbating social exclusion and poverty:      Host community not so open in reaching out to the Burundians and no interaction with other immigrant groups.

Incidences of discrimination on public transport vehicles Differential treatment at place of work for example in salaries for same job and hours Their children discriminated at school Lack of translators who would help in following up children's school progress or false cases of misbehavior.

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Discussion

 Linking social capital – Lacking exemplified by the disconnect from service providers and the general mistrust of the US system and skeptical about intentions of resettlement :      Reported fears that they were here to benefit America No one was available to verify any information they get from friends and relatives in other states as regards policies, support, and resources No one attended to them when they visited the resettlement agency office which had been moved far from their residences.

Resettlement agency staff not sensitive nor concerned about their suffering.

Lack sponsors or host families © Fletcher Njororai 15

Conclusions

 Burundian refugees are at an increased risk of remaining socially excluded for a long time hindering integration, increasing alienation, increased mental problems and stressful life.

 Resettlement policies may be increasing stressful and traumatic experiences among refugees who have been in camps for very long.

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Recommendations

 Assessing how Burundian refugees create and utilize social capital could be helpful in designing programs.

 Explore ways and strategies of increasing all three forms of social capital for Burundian refugees to facilitate resettlement.

 Resettlement policies should be tailored to the needs and contexts of specific ethnic groups.

 UNHCR and Refugee resettlement policies should consider and integrate social capital in the programs as a means to ‘get by’ and ‘get ahead’ for effective resettlement and integration of refugees.

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Further Research

 Multi-disciplinary longitudinal studies using multiple methods –the role of social capital in relation to health disparities among refugees and also assess secondary migration.  Studies to identify negative outcomes of social capital among the refugees  Studies focused on identifying evidence-based best or promising practices

Thank you

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