Key Messages

• Individual assistance using the case management approach relies on building an open and trusting relationship with returnees and helping them drive their own reintegration process and work through the challenges they are facing.
• Identifying and responding to returnee vulnerabilities is the first priority because this can reduce risk, help mitigate further harm to returnees and present an opportunity for offering tailored assistance.
• Returnees have needs, but they also have capacities and resources. Understanding these from the beginning of the reintegration process helps case managers tailor individual assistance so that it contributes to sustainable reintegration.
• Creating a plan for reintegration is a joint process. The case manager should always give returnees a realistic view of available assistance and help them plan for the point at which assistance will come to an end.

Introduction

The type and content of reintegration support should be based on returnee needs. Providing information and counselling both pre-return and post-arrival helps case managers tailor assistance to the specific situation of each returnee. This type of tailored approach is particularly important when there are specific vulnerabilities arising from family composition, sex or gender, age, medical conditions or mental distress experienced during the migration process because of abuse, exploitation or violence.

This Module contains information for assistance at the individual level, beginning with the important role that case managers play through counselling and referrals and in assessing the returnee’s needs and skills, through to developing a reintegration assistance plan. Three sections highlight best practices and interventions supporting returnees in the economic, social and psychosocial dimensions of reintegration at the individual level.

Factors affecting reintegration at the individual level

At the individual level, various factors impact successful reintegration. These include personal characteristics as well as factors related to the overall migration experience, such as:

The nature of the returnee’s migration journey and the circumstances of return are as important as any other factors. These circumstances can include: the length of the migrant’s absence; conditions in the host country; exposure to diseases or other public or mental health concerns; delayed transitions such as being held in detention before return; conditions of return or the level of return preparedness; and resources available or access to information. Individual vulnerabilities to consider include whether returnees have health needs, whether they are victims of trafficking, violence, exploitation or abuse, or whether they are unaccompanied or separated children. Such vulnerabilities require specific support in certain areas (for example, psychosocial counselling to address distressing experiences) at the start of the reintegration process and empower returnees to reach their full potential.¹⁶

¹⁶ For more information on migrants in situations of vulnerability, please refer to IOM's Handbook on Protection and Assistance to Migrants Vulnerable to Violence, Exploitation and Abuse.