Compassion Among Refugee Resettlement Workers in the United States

Background and purpose: Refugee resettlement in the U.S. survived significant challenges in recent years, with drastic reductions in arrivals during the Trump administration and COVID pandemic. In 2021, Operation Allies Welcome stretched agencies further, to receive and resettle more than 85,000 evacuated Afghans, through the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program. Within this rapidly evolving area of practice, social workers and other professionals often struggle to manage overwhelming workloads and face the possibility of burnout and other adverse outcomes. The degree to which resettlement workers maintain compassion in their practice, in light of these challenges, is not well understood. Attention to resettlement worker compassion highlights strengths and opportunites facing the U.S. resettlement system during a time of ongoing change and global need. This study examines dimensions of compassion among refugee resettlement workers in relation to individual and environmental factors.

Methods: An online survey was conducted with 472 resettlement practitioners across the U.S. Participants were accessed through Switchboard, a technical assistance platform that supports U.S. resettlement. Survey items assessed practitioner socio-demographic characteristics as well as two dimensions of compassion, worklife satisfaction, policy satisfaction, turn-over intention, and connection with clients. Compassionate mindfulness was assessed using 4-items from the mindfulness subscale of the Compassion Scale and 2-items developed by the research team assessed empathy and a desire to take action. Survey respondents represented all national U.S. resettlement agencies and originated from 42 states and Washington, D.C. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) examined how well individual items fit underlying constructs of compassionate mindfulness, empathy/action, worklife satisfaction, policy satisfaction, turn-over intention, and client connection. Linear modeling was conducted in MPLUS to examine how compassionate mindfulness and empathy/action were associated with gender, refugee status, race, manager status, worklife satisfaction, policy satisfaction, turn-over intention, and client connection.

Results: CFA indicated that the measures of compassionate mindfulness, empathy/action, worklife satisfaction, policy satisfaction, turn-over intention, and client connection measured underlying constructs. Compassionate mindfulness was associated with higher worklife satisfaction (ß = .16, 95% CI = -.00, .26, p<.05), higher client connection (ß = .32, 95% CI =.09, .27, p<.01), being female (ß = .21, 95% CI = .16, .49, p<.01), and coming to the U.S. as a refugee, asylum seeker, or parolee (ß = .16, 95% CI = .09, .45, p<.05). Dissatisfaction with the policy environment was also associated with higher compassionate mindfulness (ß = -.15, 95% CI = -.16, -.01, p<.05). Empathy/action was associated with higher client connection (ß = .27, 95% CI = .11, .34 , p<.05) and refugee background (ß = .11, 95% CI = .02, .51 , p<.05).

Conclusions and implications: Dimensions of compassion among resettlement practitioners are related to worker satisfaction with the workplace environment and resettlement policies, connection with clients, and background. Workers with refugee backgrounds may have unique perspectives and lived experiences that foster compassion. Resettlement policies that support agencies in adequately meeting the needs of newcomers, with sufficient time and resources for meaningful connection with clients, enhance staff compassion. Further research can examine how compassion is operationalized within resettlement practice.