Abstract
Contemporary society, characterized by strong demographic and social changes, brings with it the emergence of new challenges, such as the integration of the increasing migrant population. Among the various challenges, there is a need to update social workers’ skills for more effective management of the relationship with foreign citizens. In response to this, diversity management training practices are an innovative tool for the enhancement of intercultural competencies, which allows addressing with greater cultural awareness the different needs of the service users. This contribution focuses on an intervention carried out in Italy in the health care and reception systems, using intercultural training as the main tool. The training was addressed to social workers and operators working at the local level, both in public and private services. In particular, the intervention aims to respond to the organizational needs, with regard to the management of particularly vulnerable cases: asylum seekers with mental or addictive health problems, both minors and adults. Different disciplines were involved – with a multidisciplinary approach – and the method of concrete case analysis has prevailed. This method allows addressing the issues starting from the daily work experience of the operators, promoting an operational confrontation. The trainees were assigned to sub-working groups with a criterion of heterogeneity of professional roles, so as to ensure the exchange of expertise. This frame of the intervention has enabled us to achieve another fundamental goal for a more effective reception system: the implementation of the service network.
Presenters
Stella Pinna PintorPhD Student, Department of Cultures, Politics and Society, University of Turin, Torino, Italy Roberta Ricucci
University of Torino - Department of Cultures, Politics and Society
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Education and Learning Worlds of Differences
KEYWORDS
INTERCULTURAL TRAINING, SOCIAL WORKERS, DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT
