Resumen de Desafíos del trabajador social en comunidades rurales marginales: proyectos de acogida para refugiados en Basilicata, Italia
This article investigates the challenges faced by social workers in host communities located in areas characterized by residential abandonment, limited job opportunities, and scarce basic services. The study focuses on the holistic training needs of social workers in rural communities of Basilicata, Italy, where they navigate both the complexities of refugee integration and the specific difficulties of underprivileged regions. The research aims to explore the paradigms of skills and competencies required for social workers, highlighting the contexts and methods of their interventions. The chapter is organized into sections that first describe intercultural training for social workers, followed by the contextual specifics of rural Basilicata as a host region for refugees, and then detail the methodological choices used. The final sections present the findings and conclusions of the study. The results reveal three main areas where social workers operate: the individual and psychological support of refugees, facilitation of community relations, and the management of bureaucratic processes. Social workers need flexibility and intercultural mediation skills to effectively navigate these domains. The study emphasizes the importance of developing intercultural competencies for all actors involved in the refugee integration process, from beneficiaries to social workers and administrators, to create inclusive, empathetic communities. Further research is recommended to explore the dynamics of integration in rural, depopulated areas.
