Migri adopts more extensive method of supporting refugees

Asylum reception centres in the country have adopted a method called “Let’s Talk about Children” to help support the everyday life of children, families, and adolescents, said the Finnish Immigration Services (Migri) in a press release on Thursday.

Migri and MIELI Mental Health Finland have been evaluating and developing the method since 2017 to be suited for reception centres and asylum-seekers.

The project Let’s Talk about Children method in reception services – psychosocial support for families with children and the vulnerable” has received EU funding from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).

The “Let’s talk about Children” discussion aims to strengthen parenthood, a positive relationship between the child and the parent, and the child’s safe and seamless everyday life. The method uses a discussion framework called a logbook. MIELI and the Finnish Immigration Service have developed an own logbook for the reception centres. The logbook takes into account the special circumstances of asylum-seekers.

“The method has received positive feedback. According to the employees at the reception centres, the “Let’s talk about Children” work deepened trust and enhanced co-operative relationship between the client and the employee. The asylum-seekers, on the other hand, experienced that they had received support in raising their children in their own parenthood as well as received guidance regarding services,” said Jaana Karhu, senior adviser to Migri Reception Unit.

The project also trained trainers and professionals at reception centres on the “Let’s talk about Children” method. They now work as experts on the method at the reception centres.