Psychosocial support to families of immigrants

The project

The program Psychosocial support to families of immigrants – POMP aims to promote the active integration of migrants into the local community. It helps migrant families to integrate into Slovenian society and reduce isolation and social exclusion by using a multidisciplinary approach. Using methods tailored to specific population of migrants, it helps to implement contents designed to improve communication and successful integration in the social, economic and cultural environment. The program ensures a high degree of social integration, inclusion and mutual respect as fundamental elements of modern intercultural society. 

Based on actual needs and problems experienced by migrants, the program has 5 major areas of particular concern: 

1. Intercultural learning and dialogue by reducing tensions, intolerance and discrimination 
2. Functional and computer literacy for migrants and migrant families 
3. Support for primary and secondary school pupils 
4. Information on rights and obligations of immigrants 
5. Individual counselling 

Social integration is addressed through sports activities, assistance in exercising migrants’ rights to health and social care, organization of a swimming course. Cultural integration includes visits to cultural and educational institutions (theatre, exhibitions, museums) and registration at a library. The economic aspect of integration focuses on computer literacy, job seeking assistance, help with education, career guidance and assistance in solving housing problems. Political integration is tackled through emancipation of potential vulnerable members (women, children) within migrant families, assistance in regulating their status, awareness of their rights and duties, assistance with filling out various forms, applications or claims. 

The impact of the good practice

Starting from only a handful of pupils from a nearby school, the program later included a growing number of primary and secondary schools and the number of adult participants also increased. The program offers professional help to users in social, cultural, economic and political integration. They receive the support in their integration into Slovenian society and the environment (social participation). Consequently, transnational tension intolerance and discrimination are reduced. Migrant children achieve better performance in school and acquire learning habits, hence increasing employment opportunities and better living standards. Through specific workshops and working methods they consolidate and master the Slovenian language, acquiring intercultural competence. They are offered professional help in solving problems in the family and the environment, psychosocial support (counselling) and information about the rights and obligations of immigrants. They learn social skills, improve communication, computer literacy and are hence included into the broader social network.