Aim and objectives:
Receiving information about the society in which you are living in and gaining knowledge of how to take care of your health is a key component for successful integration in society. This is the guiding principle for civic and health communicators working all over Sweden.
MILSA is a knowledge-based support platform for migration and health which is devoted to producing and supporting methodological development conducive to a health-promoting and inclusive reception of newly arrived migrants in Swedish society.
The MILSA educational platform is a national initiative for civic and health communicators with a focus on education, exchange of experiences and networking. The project is supported by the European Social Fund and the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of Sweden. The project collaborates with universities and experts in various fields, county administrative boards, regions, municipalities, and civil society organisations at both national and international levels.
The research within MILSA is oriented towards the integration system and needs of newly arrived migrants, and it is carried out by way of broad collaboration between different universities and multi-level agencies that work with newly arrived migrants. The work is based on a broad approach to health, including themes such as societal participation and empowerment, mental health and well-being, housing issues, economic stress, confidence, and trust.
Target group:
Approximately 200 communicators provide civic orientation and health communication in different languages throughout the country. MILSA’s educational programme covers 22 essential topics concerning different aspects of life and takes approximately 18 months to complete.
Teachers from several universities, together with experts, have been responsible for shaping the content of the education which is carried out mostly at a distance, supplemented with practical training sessions and physical meetings.
Method:
In addition to providing a unified education for civic and health communicators, MILSA is producing textbooks on civic and health communication and a manual of methods for communicators. The textbooks are based on the national civic orientation regulation and aim at providing a deeper understanding of the subject areas. The manual of methods is to provide practical hands-on support for the communicators in the classrooms. For example, it deals with how to create a safe environment in the classroom, how to ensure that the participants receive and understand the information that is communicated, how to approach and discuss sensitive topics and what are the limitations of the communicator´s role.
Outcome:
The MILSA educational platform creates a framework for networking, collaboration and exchange of experiences between communicators and other professionals working on migration, health and integration.
Added value:
The work in the MILSA educational platform is built on civic orientation of unique potential for newly arrived migrants and opportunities for integration, employment and health.
