What Participation in Socio-Health Services? the Organisational Dimension of Services for Migrants Analysed through Representations, Structures and Networks.

This article seeks to explore the concept of participation in socio-health services, particularly focusing on the organisational dimension of services designed for migrants. Participation has become a key aspect in the governance of public services, yet its definition and practical implementation often remain unclear (de Fraites, Martin, 2015; Cervia, 2014), especially when it comes to the inclusion of marginalised groups like migrants. Using two case studies from the Campania region in Italy, this paper focuses on narratives and representations concerning two key concepts: on the one hand, it examines how participation is represented and enacted in the planning and implementation of socio-health services for migrants; on the other hand, it will highlight how migrants are represented within participatory processes. Integrating these two perspectives, the study will highlight if and how migrants are involved in decision-making processes and the extent to which their needs and voices are considered in the development of services designed for them.

The study, part of a larger research project funded by ministerial grants entitled Participation and Integration of Migrants in Small and Medium Towns, was conducted through semi-structured interviews with institutional actors, civil society representatives, and migrant community members, combined with a document analysis of relevant policies and legislation. By employing Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough, 1995), the article explores the multiple meanings attached to (migrants’) participation and how they shape power dynamics within the local networks that provide these services.

The findings reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the organisational structure of territorial networks within the socio-health policies for migrants. Only by addressing these organisational and structural challenges socio-health services can become more inclusive and better suited to the needs of migrant populations. The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing participation, and strategies for the formulation of inclusive and efficient local social and health policies.