HealthIntro - a study to increase the successful participation of refugees with health problems in the integration program
Health problems seem one major reason for why not all refugees, especially women, fulfill the introduction program (IP) and enter the labour market after the end of the program. This challenges integration, and can lead to increased inequalities in society. The HealthIntro pilot-project and existing knowledge point towards a mismatch between the IP’s goal to integrate as many refugees as possible into the labour market as soon as possible, and the demanding situation refugees with complex (health) challenges face after resettlement in the host country. Particular barriers seem related to the little flexibility of the introduction law, difficulties with collaboration between public services and with involving refugees in decision-making regarding program adjustments. It is known that refugees have more health problems than the rest of the population. Additionally, current trends in integration policy result in increasing numbers of refugees with complex challenges in municipalities, often families in which one or several members have health problems. It is therefore of high importance to develop strategies that enable municipalities to work more effectively with these most vulnerable group of refugees in the early phase of resettlement and during the IP.
In collaboration with three North Norwegian municipalities and refugees, we will explore how health problems interconnect with program participation on the national level, the municipal level and in a family context. Moreover, we will use this knowledge to collaboratively generate ideas on how to improve the strategic work in municipalities with refugees with health problems. More specifically, we will link registerdata on a national level, conduct explorative qualitative studies addressing the system level in municipalities, and the family and everday life context of refugee families, and conduct an action research inspired study to initiating change in municipalities.
End: January 31. 2026
Unit: UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Funding:
Research Council of Norway (RCN)Participants:
Johanna LaueSusanne Rolandsen
Anne Ragnhild Grini
Kjærsti Thorsteinsen
Rita Sørly
Jan Fredrik Frantzen
Hanne Cecilie Kavli
Vår Mathisen
Tina Hansen
Gunn Elin Fedreheim
Bjørn Eirik Johnsen
Rita Sørly
Results:
- Et firkanta norsk system sender flyktninger til NAV før de får prøvd seg i arbeidslivet (Feature article)
- Flyktninger blir sendt på Nav i stedet for på arbeidsmarkedet - Velferd (Feature article)
- Forvetningspress på helsa løs (Feature article)
- Forventningspress på helsa løs (Feature article)
- Samarbeidsbasert forskning i HELSEINTRO (Poster)
- Samarbeidsbasert forskning. Presentasjon av kurs og deltakere. (Lecture)
- Kvinner med fluktbakgrunn skal få flere til å fullføre introduksjonsprogrammet (Interview Journal)
- Gi flyktningene tid (Feature article)
- Deltakelse på paneldebatt: What is good integration? (Lecture)
- Om å delta i introduksjonsprogrammet når du har helseutfordringer (Lecture)
- Presentasjon av ungdomsstudien, HelseIntro (Academic lecture)
- HelseIntro - en studie om helseperspektivet i introduksjonsprogrammet for flyktninger (Lecture)
- Det ungdommene savner og setter pris på (Academic lecture)
- Flyktningenes helseutfordringer (Lecture)
- Samarbeidsutfordringer i kommunene (Lecture)
- Innspill til integreringsmelding (Briefs)
- Å skape et hjem og et godt liv (Academic lecture)
- Kjønn og helse i introduksjonsprogrammet (Academic lecture)
- Høringssvar - Forslag om videreføring av midlertidige regler i lovverket som følge av ankomst av fordrevne fra Ukraina m.m. (Briefs)
- Høringssvar - forslag til midlertidige endringer i integreringsforskriften (økt arbeidsretting av introduksjonsprogrammet) (Briefs)
- Fortellinger som posisjonering (Academic chapter/article/Conference paper)
- Kollektive fortellinger (Academic chapter/article/Conference paper)