Acculturation Stress in Northern Colorado: A Phenomenological Study on the Experiences and Perspectives of Refugee Aid Service Providers

This qualitative study uses a phenomenological approach to explore the experiences of service providers who work with refugee communities in the Northern Colorado area. The study investigates the questions of how service providers manage their clients' acculturation experiences, and how the role of those service providers' in their clients' acculturation processes affect their experience of compassion fatigue and burnout. Seven service providers were given semistructured interviews and their responses were coded using Moustakas' modified Van Kaam method of analysis. Two clusters of interrelated themes emerged: acculturation stress, with themes of (a) cultural knowledge, (b) language and communication; and boundaries, with themes of (a) burnout, (b) resources, and (c) self-care. The results are discussed in the context of the current situation of refugees living in the Northern Colorado area given the lack of resources for service providers to adequately support their clients and themselves. What is the significance of this article for the general public? Service providers working with refugee communities play a central role in the acculturation experiences of their clients. This study explores the lived experiences of service providers working with refugee clients in an attempt to provide a better understanding of their role in the acculturation process, and the impact that role has on the providers themselves. A better understanding of this phenomenon could assist in the development of tools for more effective services for refugee communities, including political and societal advocacy.