Lanaudière Heaven for Colombian Refugees-The Reality of What is and the Dream of What Could Be

8/15/2019 Lanaudière Heaven for Colombian Refugees-The Reality of What is and the Dream of What Could Be

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LIFE: International Journal of Health and Life-Sciences

ISSN 2454-5872

Fanny Robichaud et al.

Special Issue Vol. 2 Issue 1, pp. 01-17

DOI-http: d!.doi.o"# 10.20$1% li&hls.201'.s21.0117

LANAUDIÈRE HEAVEN FOR COLOMBIAN REFUGEES:THE REALITY OF WHAT IS AND

THE DREAM OF WHAT COULD BE.Fanny Robic a!"

Université du Québec en Outaouais, Campus de St-Jérôme, Canada, fanny.robichaud@u o.ca

Ca#$ Lac a#i%&Université du Québec ! "rois-#ivi$res, "rois-#ivi$res, Canada,

car%.%acharite@u tr.ca

F#ancin' "' Mon%i(nyUniversité du Québec en Outaouais, &atineau, Canada,

francine.demonti'ny@u o.ca

Ab)%#ac%Considerin' the steady increase in the arriva% of refu'ee fami%ies, it seems essentia% to point out

the cha%%en'es this ne( rea%ity raises and to e)p%ore avenues that (ou%d resu%t in a positive

e)perience for fami%ies. "he authors su''est cha%%en'in' our perceptions of the refu'ees*

e)perience by 'ivin' a voice to these fami%ies and darin' to consider them as e)perts in their

o(n e)perience. +ppreciative in uiry (as used to e)p%ore not on%y the cha%%en'es faced by

refu'ee fami%ies, but a%so to uncover the successes and shed %i'ht on ne( so%utions. "heimportance of inc%udin' fami%ies in the research process and in discussions re%ated to the

deve%opment of services stands out, as (e%% as the empo(erin' effect of reco'ni in' the fami%y

(isdom.

*'y+o#")

( 201' )he autho" and *RDS +ublishin#. ll "i#hts "ese" ed.Available Online at: http: #"dspublishin#.o"# &ou"nals- IF/-ho e

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Appreciative inquiry, families, parents and partners, refugees

,. In%#o"!c%ionThe last twenty years have been marked by numerous conflicts and natural disasters, and

the number of families found outside their country or region of origin is growing. Given this

steady increase and the fact that the majority of refugees and displaced persons are in developing

countries, the United ation !igh "ommissioner for #efugees $U !"#% urge developed

countries to maintain and increase their efforts to receive them $U !"#, &'(', &'()%.

*n (+ -, new protections for refugees were built into "anada s immigration policy,

thereby opening the door to families seeking asylum. /etween &''0 and &''-, (0.01 of

immigrants to the province of 2uebec were refugees $3*"", &''+%. 4f the (5 regions in

2uebec, the 6anaudi7re region ranks si8th in the number of refugees hosted $3*"", &''+%.

According to data available in &''+, the region hosted more than &,''' immigrants of all

categories $3*"", &''+%. These newcomers come from many different places, although &&.51

of the immigrants to 6anaudi7re between &''9 and &'' were refugees and 51 of these were

from "olombia $3*"", &''+%.

To assist families in the arrival and integration process in 6anaudi7re, several programsand various resources have been developed. :ducation, health and other institutions have

reviewed their service offerings to include a component on cultural diversity that would meet the

needs of immigrant families. !owever, despite the avowed intention to consider the needs of

immigrant families, the families themselves are rarely involved in the process of program

development; the same applies to research that focuses on their situation $tein et al., &''&; Usita ? /lies=ner, &''&%.

According to "annon, !igginbotham, and 6eung $(++-% and Alvare=, @asque=, 3ayorga,


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communication, Canuary, &''&%. This may e8plain why !ispanic women are particularly difficult

to recruit $Alvare= et al., &''5%; they occupy a central role within the family, which also has animpact on their ability to engage in activities outside the home. ummerfield, (+++%. The usual modus operandi introduces a bias from the outsetD the perspective

of the observer whose training and culture will have an impact on the analysis of the situation.

This impact begins from the point of view of problemati=ation, which has been the subject of

numerous studies $/reslau, Eavis, Andreski, ? Beterson, (++(; Ee Cong et al. &''(; 3ooren,&''(; #edwood "ampbell et al., &''9%. ummerfield $&''), &''-%,

an accurate understanding from the perspective of people who have e8perienced the situation isessential. Using such an approach, this study aims to identify the best practices and strengths of

refugee families arriving in rural areas of 2uebec. 3ore particularly, it aims toD

• Brovide a different perspective on the e8perience of immigrant families, specifically

refugees, using appreciative inquiry to give voice to those families and their partners.


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• !ighlight the value of the successes and the paths to solutions $"ooperrider,

>orensen, Hhitney, ? Iaeger, &'''; Eunst, Trivette ? Eeal, (++)%.The research questions we would like to answer areD

• Hhat strengths identified by refugee families and partners facilitate integration and

family life in communities in northern 6anaudi7reJ

• Hhich best practices are identified by the families and partnersJ

• !ow can the establishment or maintenance of these practices be promotedJ

-. M'% o"

&.(. O '# i'+ o/ % ' M'% o"This study was based on appreciative inquiry $A*%, which begins by recogni=ing the

e8perience of its participants. 3eetings are planned to move through four phases. The first phase

is iscovery . This phase e8plores, evaluates, and describes the group or organi=ation and what is

working well $"ooperrider ? al., &'''%. The second, reamin' , e8plores what the organi=ation,

group or service could be. This phase has three elementsD a vision of a better world, a powerful

goal, and strategic findings $"ooperrider ? al., &'''%. The esi'n phase involves the

operationali=ation of the project, that is, the creation of the ideal organi=ation, during which it

becomes necessary to prioriti=e, to make choices. The last phase, estiny , is the creation of the

network that will allow the project to be achieved and to facilitate connections.

-.-. S'%%in(The area encompassed by this study is northern 6anaudi7re. The 6anaudi7re region of

2uebec is among those targeted by a provincial program for the location of refugees since (++5.

*n the region targeted by the study, refugees have settled mainly around Coliette because of the

pro8imity to services, so researchers for this study have focused primarily on these services.

#efugee origins vary from year to year, depending on conflict situations. Therefore, to provide a

portrait of the situation in the Coliette regional municipal county $#3"% for the clientele of

health, social and education services, the researchers invited participants from diverse

backgrounds. !owever, only families of "olombian origin indicated an interest in taking part in

the study. 6imitations related to this situation are addressed in the discussion of results.( 201' )he autho" and *RDS +ublishin#. ll "i#hts "ese" ed.Available Online at: http: #"dspublishin#.o"# &ou"nals- IF/-ho e

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-.0. 1a#%ici2an%)

*n all, 9- individuals were interviewedK&- adults, as well as (' teenagers, who areidentified as partners $as defined below%. 4f the adults, (& are parents who live with their

spouses, 9 are single parents, and (9 are adult partners, of whom some are parents. The parents

have at least one child and they arrived in the 6anaudi7re region under refugee status in the four

years prior to the beginning of the study.

-.3. 1a#%n'#)Bartners are people who have been involved in the reception, integration, or support

provided to refugee families in the 6anaudi7re region. A previous study $#obichaud, &''0% found

that several partners become involved when a refugee family arrives and settles in a community.

Those partners, identified by families, come from various organi=ationsKschools, health centers

and social services, refugee shelters, volunteers, church services, and community policingKas

well as host families.

To be considered as partners, they had to have interacted, either in their workplace or

volunteer work, with refugee families, or to have participated in planningLprogramming services.

Bartners may also be caregivers, refugees, or people of 2uebec origin $2uebeckers% who offer

their assistance to families or individuals.

-.4. 1#oc'"!#' /o# Da%a Ac5!i)i%ionTo promote a consistent flow and rhythm during meetings, the Eiscovery and Ereaming

phases were discussed over two meetings. These meetings were held in peopleMs homes or in

their workplace, while the Eesign phase was developed at meetings attended by participants in a

room specifically booked for this purpose. The Eestiny phase is reserved for the final meeting to

which all participants as well as various guests are invited. The four phases often overlap

throughout the researchKA* is a continuous, not a linear process $Hhitney ? TrNsten /loom,

&'('%. Given the variety of partners, the principal investigator chose a strategy used by "arter

$"arter, personal communication, Cune &''5% to perform the first meetings in Finterviews

targeting the situation of a family Kby undertaking interviews individually, in pairs, or with one


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parent and one or more partners, depending on preferences and the particular situation of each

family.The subsequent meetings were held mostly in the form of groups. >pecial attention was

given to the balance of the groups formed to ensure the sharing of power. *n addition, the

principal investigator reserved the right to meet individually with anyone who might have been

uncomfortable contributing to group e8changes. At any time, participants could join or leave the

group meetings. This openness was part of a process that promotes the empowerment of the

families. To facilitate e8changes, parents and partners were free to use the language of their

choice during meetings. Hith an interpreter present, everyone could e8press themselves and

understanding of the contributions was more likely because e8changes were translated in the two

languages usedK>panish and


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The first level analysis was done in two waysD at the end of the first interviews,

participants were invited to make a synthesis of discussions that occurred; then the principalinvestigator confirmed all perceptions with them and any information that seemed significant.

Barticipants then took part in the second level of analysis; they were asked to clarify, discuss,

adjust and summari=e the issues that they believed were representative of their collective

e8perience and of individual participants. Euring meetings, consensus was the goal, although

according to A*, in the event of any disagreement, the researcher should ensure that the all

messages are represented in the final report on the e8changes and mentions the presence of, and

respect for, differences among participants. *n a third series of interviews, participants went

deeper into the second level analysis. Horking from syntheses developed in the preceding series,

were asked to develop a summary of the elements essential to creating success stories. Thus they

not only determined the elements that directly resulted from the study, but also those for which

the principal investigator could make connections with current knowledge.

Barticipants also took part in planning meetings and their content.


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0. R')!$%) an" Di)c!))ion


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themselves; and sensing interest and a mutual commitment. *t is interesting that the partners

identified certain conditions that are more in the realm of perception, while the conditionsrevealed by the families seem to focus more on actions.

9.9. Co66!nica%ion"ommunication is cited as presenting many challenges. The ultimate goal is for families

to acquire the ability to share their e8perience, needs, and opinions in the language of the host

community. According to participants, there should be different kinds of groups with different

teaching methods tailored to individuals and their situations. This is key for smooth integration

and access to services. Eespite the high cost of such support, participants are in favor of the

presence of support for translation andLor interpretation and for guidance during training at work

or parent meetings at school to optimi=e their participation in society. To this end, they proposed

specifically that partnerships with students from language schools or translation training courses

be e8plored in addition to the use of current volunteers.

9.0. R')2'c%*t is interesting to note that participants dwelt for quite a while on the ways in which

respect presents itself, especially in connection with their arrival; the partners also raised

concerns with regard to their own culture and judgments that they sometimes perceive are made by the newcomers. Barticipants agreed on the fact that nobody likes to be labelled and that they

e8pect to be considered and treated as unique. They noted that there were differences within their

group just as within the "olombian and 2uebec communities and that respect for these

differences is essential. Aroian and orris $&'''% and Eesmet, 4rtuQo 4rtRn, and Hac=iarg

$&'()% have noted the importance of diversity within a cultural group and identified the impact

of diversity on needs. A sensitive issue concerns the housing provided to newly arrived families,

who believe that the type of accommodation offered is an indication of the respect accorded totheir situation, needs, and concerns. 4ne proposal the group puts forward to promote respect

through accommodations is to set up an association of immigrants that would come to the aid of

families looking for housing, offering choices to them when they arrive, informing them of the

laws that pertain to renting accommodations, homeowners interested in renting housing could


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tender offers to a government body that would follow this up with quality assurance measures to

ensure housing meets the minimum standards they would establish.9.). An A"'5!a%' S!22o#% N'%+o#7

The arrival e8perience is intense and unsettling, and participants e8pressed that the need

for personali=ed services that help one feel safe and welcome. An adequate support network was

identified as another success determinant.

4ne such network is the organi=ationalLprofessional support network. A pivotal element

regarding this network is the information transmitted. Barticipants say this should focus on job

opportunities, recogni=ing the professional bodies to which they have belonged, the training they

have had, and any related mattersKall this while they are still in "olombia. *nformation on

education and qualification recognition must also be transmitted quickly since these are long

processes that have a direct impact on the family s integration. Barticipants say it is also

important to maintain a link with newly arrived families and to be proactive in offering support.

:qually important is the social support network, which is developed more informally in

the community through job shadowing and immigrant families helping their own or other

families. /OrubO s $&''0% work follows a similar path, maintaining that the support offered for

housing, access to information, improved living conditions, or access to employment helps a parent reconcile multiple roles, set e8pectations, and better steer the way to integration.

9.5. A!%ono6yAutonomy is a determinant that quickly obtained the group s consensus.


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meetings for this study. All in all, throughout the process of integration into a new community

and despite the obstacles and doubts they encountered, participants affirm the importance theyattach to the family unit and clarify the type of support needed to preserve this particular aspect

with reference to role transitioning. Another issue discussed at the meetings was the negative

impact their culture shock has on the family. To counteract this, in the opinion of participants,

families and partners must be involved at all levels of prevention, detection, and response. These

approaches are similar to the conclusions of @at= 6aaroussi $&''-% and /OrubO $&''0% in which

the family must guide the analysis and be at the heart of programming interventions for

immigrants.

9.-. Ti6' /o# R'$a8a%ion an" R'c#'a%ion3any mentioned the physical and mental benefits of sporting activities, as well as

associated effects such as being in contact with others in an informal conte8t, pushing one s

limits, and letting off some steam. 4thers are attracted more to cultural or social activitiesD group

dancing, going to see a movie, reading a good book, walking in a park. *t is interesting to note

that the children interviewed previously mentioned this need in themselves as much as in their

parents, acknowledging everyone s need to escape from a rather heavy daily routine. *n addition

to providing a sense of balance and recovery, recreation promotes community integration $Bau=O? GagnO, &'')%, thus contributing indirectly to maintaining and developing the social network.

9.+. Ho2'Although this aspect was less discussed, the group is unanimous about this aspect, yet it

is undoubtedly the most surprising aspect for the principal investigator. *n fact, although distinct

from the other determinants, hope is closely related to several of them.


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participants to get involved in co creating group measures that are closely related to practice

$"arter, &''5a%. Barticipants, as witnesses to change over the course of the study, reali=e that theycan have some control over their situation. The contributions noted during the study seem to

support /arrett $(++)%, for whom the underlying e8perience of A* is itself a source of

empowerment for participants.

Through the A* process, nine elements were identified as keys to improve the

immigration e8perienceD recognition, commitment, communication, respect, an adequate support

network, autonomy, family identity, time for rela8ation and recreation, and hope. The study also

showcases the successes and strengths of participants, including their abilities with regard to

facing their e8perience and identifying possible solutions. 3oreover, according to several

contemporary authors, the recognition of community and family strengths is essential for

identifying priority areas in intervention, research, and the development of health policy

$#ousseau, !assan, 3orneau ? Thombs, &'((; >ummerfield, &''); Usita ? /lies=ner, &''&%. *n

research as in clinical assessment, focusing on problems when developing services or teaching

and training professionals, does not take into account a global vision of the e8perience and needs

of families. The ownership of the research process demonstrated by the families of this study

shows that they have the ability to analy=e their e8periences and identify possible solutions.*n all the success determinants identified by participants, it is interesting to note the

pervasiveness of the concept of personal responsibility or action. This concept imbues the

descriptions of the determinants, the phraseology, the themes chosenKall reflect a concern for

action. According to A* researchers, adopting a statement on a change to be made is a harbinger

of change, just as, according to A*, the very discussion of change is already a change in itself

$/ushe, &'((%.

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"arter, /. $&''5b%. Horking it out togetherD being solution focused in the way we nurse with

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"ollins, B. !. $(++9%. Toward a new visionD #ace, class and gender as categories of analysis and

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"ooperrider, E. 6., >orensen, B., Hhitney, E., ? Iaeger, T. omasundaram, E. $&''(%. 6ifetime events in posttraumatic stress disorder in

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Lanaudière Heaven for Colombian Refugees-The Reality of What is and the Dream of What Could Be

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