The Situation of Unaccompanied Migrant Minors and Young People in Shelters and Protection Centers in Andalusia (Spain)

ABSTRACT

This article aims to determine the situation of unaccompanied immigrant minors and young people in reception and protection centers for children in Andalusia, Spain. The study design is qualitative exploratory. The fieldwork was carried out in three provinces of Andalusia and involved interviews and focus groups with minors and young people in shelters and protection centers. The results show the participants’ perception of the care they receive in the centers. Situations of conflict between minors and professionals, disputes generated by cultural differences, lack of quality food, and cases of violence, among other issues, are the experiences reported by those interviewed. The research concludes that there is a need for more significant work inspections in reception and protection centers and more excellent proximity to urban environments that help social inclusion.

Practice Implications

• Reception and protection centers can develop social policies and practices better geared toward respecting human rights and addressing issues related to the relationship between professionals and migrant children and youth.

• Facilities in protection centers should be better funded financially to improve community and social care spaces.

• Public administrations should carry out more labor inspections in reception and protection centers as a means to avoid situations of abuse toward children and young people.

• Providing professionals with more training in social skills could improve relations with unaccompanied foreign minors and young people.

• Locating reception and protection centers closer to urban areas could improve social inclusion.

KEYWORDS:

• Unaccompanied children
• violence
• migration
• children care

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).