Child in the migrational family – the issue of care and social support

Abstract

Researches conducted in families separated as a result of gainful migration aimed to determine situation of the child remaining in long-lasting separation with one or both parents. 77 children aged 3 to 17 were qualified to researches. Interviews were made with the children at the base of questionnaire allowing to collect research ma-terial constructed for the purposes of the studies. Obtained results of the studies on the random sample allowed to determine proportions of departures among mothers and fathers and form of care which is “organized” by the parents for the children during their absence. Majority of the studied children is in the custody of one of the par-ents, most commonly mother of the child, who is often supported by own parents or more rarely by siblings or per-sons from outside the family. At the other hand, children, answering the question about the need of support and understanding by the closest persons, most frequently (3/4 of studied group) pointed that they need help in difficult situations resulting from the separation with parent, but they do not receive it, remaining alone with their feelings and problems. Only 12% of the studied children pointed that they count on help of the closest (siblings, grandpa-rents, extended family) and 4% of children experienced professional help at school.