Nurturing hope in refugee children during early years of post-war adjustment

Resettlement countries have begun to recognize the need for more services aimed at assisting children and families from known areas of conflict and with histories of trauma and loss. Despite this awareness, there is a dearth of literature that explores the experiences and practice of front-line service providers. In this qualitative case study, 12 staff of a psychosocial early intervention program for refugee children shared their observations of children's experiences during early years of adjustment in a resettlement country. The study focused on perceptions of hope, experiences that engendered and hindered hope in the children, and ways in which staff viewed their own work in nurturing hope. Thematic analysis interviews uncovered three main themes: (1) Hope is like a seed, (2) Invisible seeds: Some challenges that hinder hope, and (3) Visible seeds: Some experiences engender hope. Results highlight the range of challenges encountered by refugee children and families in post-migration contexts, the importance of hopeful orientations for service providers working with children with known histories of trauma, and how hope is nurtured in the context of caring relationships.