Video: Immigrant Integration Lab
Dr. Westy Egmont introduces the Immigrant Integration Lab. He addresses the implications of 38 million immigrants living in the U.S. today and proposes that social workers are the front line of interactivity with this newcomer population. Watch video »
Immigrant Integration Lab Launched
The Immigrant Integration Lab launched with a colloquium on the role of social workers in immigrant integration. Demetrios Papademetriou, President and Founder of Migration Policy Institute, was the keynote speaker. Read more about the colloquium and watch a video of the keynote »
Immigrant Integration Lab Fellowship Award
A $10,000 Fellowship has been awarded to Lyndsey McMahan, MSW '14, to research the provision of basic needs to asylees in the U.S. being released from detention centers. More about the Fellowship »
Immigrant Integration Lab
Today's Social Workers Serving Tomorrow's Citizens
Today's Social Workers Serving Tomorrow's Citizens
About Us
The Immigrant Integration Lab (IIL) is an applied research lab exploring the intersection of social work, social policy, and immigrant inclusion. IIL is committed to social justice, working toward the well-being of immigrants by pursuing a rigorous academic approach that seeks to understand the appropriate services and delivery systems that lead to full social, civic, and economic integration of the foreign born in the United States. Dr. Westy Egmont leads the lab team.
Boston College Graduate School of Social Work is committed to human needs and human rights. The migratory nature of the world has huge implications for delivering care and creating well-being. Immigrants are at once both the concern of social work and the actors who provide new initiatives and new solutions. Understanding the complex interaction of various populations is vital to social welfare and the creation of a just and well functioning society.
What Is Immigrant Integration?
With 38 million foreign born residents, the U.S. addresses both the continuing work of nation building and fostering social cohesion. Social workers, like teachers, are the front line of interactivity with the newcomer population. Displaced and vulnerable populations call for a skilled and insightful workforce to accompany them on their journey.
Immigrant integration is the dynamic two-way process by which an immigrant is incorporated into a new society and the way the society adapts as it incorporates the newcomers. A primary goal of social work on both the clinical and macro level is enabling individuals to avoid marginalization and participate fully in the social, civic, and economic life of their country.
Programs & Resources
Courses: Cross cultural mental health, diversity, cultural competency, immigrant integration, contemporary issues with immigrants and refugees, social transformation, parent engagement, social policy and advocacy
Field Education: Over 100 social service agencies serving immigrants within an hour of Boston College
Life Long Learning: Lecture series, continuing education credits, seminars for clinicians, resource teams, current research
Contact Us
Dr. Westy Egmont
McGuinn Hall 218
617-552-6934
westy.egmont@bc.edu
