Research Focus
It is estimated that by the end of 2023, approximately one in every 28 individuals worldwide will reside outside their native country, and over one in 69 people will have experienced forced displacement. These staggering numbers continue to surge annually due to the compounding factors of climate change, ongoing wars and conflicts, and economic crises. Immigrants and forcibly displaced individuals face significant mental health disparities and social and economic exclusion. Despite these alarming trends and evidence, the limited research and data on (forced) migration act as a significant impediment to the health system and immigrant and refugee service agencies’ ability to adapt and meet the needs of a world that is increasingly on the move.
The Initiative for Social Work and Forced Migration (ISWFM) aims to lead and coordinate social work and social welfare research, education, and training to improve the quality of life and well-being for immigrants and forcibly displaced people. The ISWFM serves as a virtual hub for social work scholars in international forced migration.
Our projects for summer 2024 include:
- The protecting role of ethnic networks during COVID-19: A pilot study among Afghan refugees in St. Louis: This study is funded by the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, Neidorff Family, and Centene Corporation COVID & Health Disparity Response Fund, and aims to explore the role of ethnic networks and social connectedness in buffering the negative health impacts of COVID-19 among Afghan refugees in St. Louis.
- Developing a Protocol for Virtual Delivery of a Transdiagnostic Mental Health Intervention Among Afghan Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Turkey: This pilot study is funded by the McDonnell International Scholars Academy, WashU Global Health Center, and WashU Here & Next and aims to develop a Protocol for the virtual Delivery of culturally adapted cognitive behavioral therapy plus problem management (CA-CBT+) among Afghan refugees in Turkey.
- Economic Integration and Poverty Among the Newly Resettled Afghans: This pilot study is funded by the Russell Sage Foundation and aims to explore the economic integration of newly resettled Afghans in St. Louis, MO, and Portland, OR from a multidimensional perspective.
- Exploring the Role of Social Position and Administrative Barriers in the Multidimensional Economic Integration of Newly Resettled Afghans in St. Louis: This project is funded by the WashU Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and aims to explore the role of administrative barriers as well as social position in the relationship between initial support and multidimensional economic integration among newly resettled Afghans in St. Louis.
Skills, Techniques, Methods
Conducting systematic literature reviews, research ethics in working with human participants, qualitative data collection and cleaning.
Research Conditions
This position will be physically housed in the Center for the Environment Intern co-working space, work and meetings with the team will be remote, and the reach team will meet once a week via Zoom.
Team Structure and Opportunities
Information about the structure of the research team is available on the Initiative on Social Work & Forced Migration Website and opportunities for independent research exist.
