title: Exploring Social Service Providers' Perspectives on Barriers to Social Services for Early Adjustment of Immigrant Adolescents in South Korea.
abstract: Recently arrived immigrant adolescents experience difficulties in adjusting to school in South Korea. However, the existing social services do not meet their psychosocial needs. This study investigates the perspectives of social service providers about challenges in providing services for immigrant adolescents early in their adjustments. We conducted qualitative, in-depth interviews with 27 South Korean social service providers. We identified barriers to social services, categorized into three themes: (1) Initial Contact Phase; (2) Service Delivery Phase; and (3) Structural Challenges. We suggest interventions concerning work-related stress for the social service providers, family-level involvement, diversity training, and integrated and collaborative immigration services. An examination of social service providers' challenges in working with immigrant adolescents is a necessary first step toward the development of programs and policies.
authors.affiliation: College of Social Work, University of Utah, 395 South 1500 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
authors.forename: Jaehee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Welfare, Myongji University, 34 Geobukgol-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03674, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min Ah
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Social Welfare, Sungkyunkwan University, 25-2 Sungkyunkwan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. kihyun.kim@skku.edu.
authors.forename: Kihyun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 4756 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA.|Humanities and Social Science Campus, Department of Social Welfare, Sungkyunkwan University, 25-2 Sungkyunkwan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D054521:Cultural Competency; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000068217:Social Workers / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology*
keywords: Barriers; Immigrant adolescents; Immigration; Social service providers; South Korea