Caringscapes and belonging: an intersectional analysis of care relationships of unaccompanied minors in Belgium

Recognition in the lives of unaccompanied children and youth: A review of the key European literature

“…The current review revealed that in the lives of unaccompanied children and youth, building trusting relationships can begin with recognizing the children's basic needs (e.g., Eriksson & Hedberg Rundgren, 2019; Gustafsson, Fioretos, & Norström, 2012; Ní Raghallaigh & Sirriyeh, 2015; Sirriyeh, 2013); however, merely acknowledging basic needs by offering food and shelter is not enough. Recognition with love can be enhanced by small everyday encounters, such as those described in several studies (De Graeve & Bex, 2017; Eriksson & Hedberg Rundgren, 2019; Herz & Lalander, 2017; Kaukko & Wernesjö, 2017; Kohli, Connolly, & Warman, 2010; Lundberg & Dahlquist, 2012; Ní Raghallaigh & Sirriyeh, 2015; O'Toole Thommessen, Corcoran, & Todd, 2015; Sirriyeh & Ní Raghallaigh, 2018): For example, inviting the young person to participate in everyday routines and gatherings can create a feeling of recognition with emotional bonds and care. This appears to reflect a basic form of recognition that unaccompanied children and youth lack, simply because of their status: being recognized as members of a caring community.…”

“…The care structures in unaccompanied children's and youths' lives influenced the possibilities for recognition that incorporated the aspect of love. For example, age and legal status, rather than personal needs, often defined their living arrangements (e.g., De Graeve & Bex, 2016, 2017). Additionally, these young people lived among official relationships.…”

“…Legal guardians and staff at their living units became close, yet these relationships remained professional. Some of the children and youth in the studies described how their needs as children, in particular, the need for reciprocal care, love and support, were not recognized by the staff at the living units, the legal guardians, teachers or other officials in their lives (Bjerneld et al, 2018; De Graeve & Bex, 2016, 2017; Deveci, 2012; Eide et al, 2018; Herz, 2019; Herz & Lalander, 2017; Kalverboer et al, 2017; Kaukko & Wernesjö, 2017; Lundberg & Dahlquist, 2012; Oppedal et al, 2017; Pastoor, 2015; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017; Wernesjö, 2015). De Graeve and Bex (2017), Eide et al (2018), Herz and Lalander (2017), Ní Raghallaigh (2014) and Wernesjö (2015) all described the unaccompanied children and youth as possibly perceiving these officials plainly as people ‘doing their job,’ rather than as people who were emotionally involved or with whom a reciprocal trusting relationship could be created.…”

“…Indeed, some of the unaccompanied children and youth in the studies explained how they received less guidance and emotional availability than they would want from their legal guardians (De Graeve & Bex, 2016, 2017; Hopkins & Hill, 2010; Kalverboer et al, 2017; Wernesjö, 2015). However, some studies (Eriksson & Hedberg Rundgren, 2019; Kalverboer et al, 2017; Lundberg & Dahlquist, 2012; O'Toole Thommessen et al, 2015; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017) described good care relationships between the young unaccompanied individuals and their guardians.…”

“…What made these guardian relationships good was that the guardians showed emotional involvement and interest in the children's and youths' well‐being, sometimes even after the official relationships had ended (Eriksson & Hedberg Rundgren, 2019; Kalverboer et al, 2017; Lundberg & Dahlquist, 2012; O'Toole Thommessen et al, 2015; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017). Many participants of the studies discussed their experiences with recognitive atmospheres in other official relationships with professionals, such as social workers, immigration office staff, teachers, doctors and police officers (Bjerneld et al, 2018; De Graeve & Bex, 2017; Eide et al, 2018; Eriksson & Hedberg Rundgren, 2019; Herz & Lalander, 2017; Pastoor, 2015; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017).…”