Improving mental health services for young refugees: The role of organisational readiness in residential care facilities

Child Protection and Practice Pub Date : 2025-02-18 DOI:10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100119

Selina Kappler, Fabienne Hornfeck, Heinz Kindler

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Abstract

Background

Social workers play a crucial role in addressing the needs of unaccompanied young refugees (UYRs), but the impact of institutional factors on the success of evidence-based programs remains unclear.

Objective

This study examines factors influencing organisational readiness for change (ORC) in Children and Youth Welfare System (CYWS) facilities caring for UYRs.

Participants and setting

In a survey of N = 148 CYWS facilities all over Germany, 148 facility directors (M_age = 44.89; SD_age = 11.15; 62.7% female) participated.

Methods

This research utilized a quantitative design to gain a broader and more in-depth understanding of the motivation and institutional capacities needed to support mental health care for UYRs. The participants provided information about the facility structure and characteristics, evaluation of the care provided for mental health within and outside the facility, and preparedness for UYRs’ mental health problems. The ORC was assessed using an adapted (shorter) version of the Readiness Monitoring Tool (RMT). For the analyses, predictors such as preparedness, staff turnover, supervision, and experience with UYRs were used.

Results

Institutional preparedness for UYRs’ mental health needs was moderate (M = 6.20, SD = 1.78). Gender did not impact ORC. Staff turnover (45.2%) and supervision availability (98.0%) influenced organisational readiness. General capacity correlated with institutional preparedness, staff turnover, and experience, while innovation-specific capacity was linked to preparedness and supervision. Regression analyses showed institutional preparedness as a key predictor for both subscales, explaining significant variance (general: R² = .494; innovation-specific: R² = .370). Experience reduced general capacity.

Conclusions

The results indicated that successful and sustainable change processes within CYWS facilities rely on profound and individually adapted preparation involving all facility members. In terms of policy and implementation of interventions, host country stakeholders must develop strategies to mitigate stressors and foster an environment conducive to effective, high-quality social work, thereby better equipping social workers for organisational change.

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改善青年难民的心理健康服务：组织准备在寄宿照料设施中的作用

社会工作者在解决无人陪伴的年轻难民（uyr）的需求方面发挥着至关重要的作用，但制度因素对循证项目成功的影响尚不清楚。目的探讨影响青少年福利系统（CYWS）机构照顾弱势群体的组织变革准备（ORC）的因素。参与者和环境在对全德国N = 148个CYWS设施的调查中，148个设施主管(Mage = 44.89；SDage = 11.15；62.7%为女性)。方法本研究采用定量设计，以更广泛、更深入地了解支持维吾尔族人心理卫生保健所需的动机和机构能力。参与者提供了有关设施结构和特点的信息，对设施内外提供的精神卫生护理的评价，以及对维吾尔族人精神卫生问题的准备情况。ORC是使用准备监测工具（RMT）的改编（更短）版本进行评估的。为了进行分析，使用了诸如准备、员工流动率、监督和uyr经验等预测因素。结果机构对维吾尔族心理健康需求的准备程度一般（M = 6.20, SD = 1.78）。性别对ORC没有影响。员工流动率（45.2%）和监督可获得性（98.0%）影响组织准备程度。一般能力与机构准备、工作人员更替和经验有关，而创新能力与准备和监督有关。回归分析显示，制度准备是两个分量表的关键预测因子，解释了显著方差(一般：R2 = .494；创新特异性：R2 = 0.370)。经验降低一般容量。结果表明，CYWS设施内成功和可持续的变革过程依赖于所有设施成员参与的深刻和个性化的准备。在政策和干预措施的实施方面，东道国利益相关者必须制定战略，减轻压力因素，营造有利于有效、高质量社会工作的环境，从而更好地为社会工作者提供组织变革的装备。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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Child Protection and Practice

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