“You Have to Guide Them by Hand”: Service Providers’ Perspectives on Newcomer Youths’ School Integration Experiences

Newcomer youths (i.e., young immigrants, refugees, international students) represent a growing community across Canada, and their transition into school systems is critical to their wellbeing. School integration represents a novel vantage point by which to explore the immigration experiences of newcomer youth who are adjusting to student life. Service providers (e.g., administrative staff, guidance counsellors, settlement workers, etc.) are critical partakers in the school integration of newcomer youth. This qualitative study employed a social constructionist perspective and an integrated social justice lens. The central research questions guiding this inquiry included (1) How do participants understand newcomer youths’ experiences of school integration? And (2) What are the ways in which participants support newcomer students in high schools? In-depth, semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with six service providers in one designated high school. A thematic analysis led to the development of five salient themes: (1) supporting academic needs, (2) life outside of school, (3) mental health concerns, (4) connections in school, and (5) gaps in the education system. Results of this study highlight the larger systemic issues that continue to impede the experiences of newcomer youth in schools. Implications for service providers working with newcomer youth in schools are presented.