The literature review component of this project was undertaken partly to identify the factors that to influence the integration of refugees, positively or negatively, and partly to guide the construction of the data collection instruments. Appendix I-Volume 2 provides a summary statement of this literature plus an annotated bibliography. While some of the published studies focus specifically on refugees, others do not draw a sharp distinction between refugees and other immigrants. This is also true of statistics derived from the Canadian census where the term "immigrant" covers both voluntary and forced immigration. Despite this limitation, past research is a valuable source of information and insights about the social and economic integration of immigrants and/or refugees and their descendants. While it is not our intention to review all of the material in Appendix I, four sets of variables relevant to integration can be identified. These are discussed in turn.
Generally speaking, age, gender, education and occupational skills have been found to be important factors in integration. Specifically, immigrants/refugees who tend to integrate more readily into the host society are typically younger (rather than older), males (rather than females), with higher (rather than lower) education, and with well developed (rather than less well developed) occupational skills. Length of residence in the host society and family coherence within the household have also been found to be positively related to successful integration.
At the community level, the following factors have been found to be important for successful integration: presence of facilitative institutional arrangements and government support, awareness of all services provided, size of municipality of residence (inversely related to adjustment), patience with new refugees, helping refugees organize for change (empowerment), presence of a bridging approach where possible (i.e., hiring refugees as social workers or nurses), and presence of social workers who work simultaneously with refugee families and with the larger community (because integration is a two-way process occurring at both levels).
Many studies have shown that economic integration is facilitated immeasurably by English language proficiency (French in Quebec), recognition of the refugees’ foreign credentials, full-time employment (rather than under- or unemployment), and the presence of compatriot communities (ethnic enclaves).
The fourth set of variables influencing integration focuses on service practices in the host community. Research evidence repeatedly underlines the importance of planning for multicultural services in such areas as health and education. This involves, among other things, the use of interpreters; sufficient provision of English language instruction; adaptation to clients’ cultural needs; education of healthcare professionals, social workers and teachers; and modifying teaching practices to respond more effectively to cultural diversity in the classroom.
Chapters 6 and 7 report findings from this study on settlement services in the host communities and on the settlement experiences of refugees. These chapters, along with the above highlights of past research, provide valuable insights for making appropriate policy recommendations.