ATD pilot project in Poland

Katarzyna Słubik

What are engagement-based alternatives?

New approach: instead of mistrust and policing

migrants, we use social work methodologies: tailored

case management to support and empower migrants

to explore all migration outcomes

The IDC’s program of research

The IDC’s program of research

aims to identify and describe

alternatives to immigration

detention.

Through this research, the IDC

has identified over 250examples of alternatives from

over 60 countries.

Detention:

• Does not deter

• Does not necessarily support case resolution

•Alternatives

• Can promote compliance and more efficient and

sustainable immigration decisions

• Achieves high return rates for cases where

individuals have no legal basis to remain

Alternatives are highly effective

The CAP model (Community Assessment and Placement)

The No Detention Necessary project(2017-2019)

• Aim:promoting alternatives to detention and providing

necessary evidence and arguments for advocacy against

immigration detention at the national and regional level

• Small group of migrants: 34 adults and 33 children in

return procedures released from detention or/and with

ATDs imposed

• Focus on families with children and vulnerable persons

• Qualification criteria: motivation to cooperate/ low or

medium risk of absconding/ basic needs met

Poland as a transit country

- Not an attractive destination country for asylum seekers

- ca. 70-80% applicants leave Poland soon afterapplying for asylum

- push-factors: family pressure, unfair asylumprocedures, low recognition rates (9 % as opposed to 19 % average in EU)

No Detention Necessary

Case management

Legalcounselling

Psychological support

Emergencyfund

Language support

Case management

InterventionsEnhancement of

wellbeingProvision of information

Supporting caseresolution

Referrals and facilitating access to other services

and resources

Empowerment

Response to complex needs and

vulnerabilities

Case management

Screening

Needs assessment

Case plan

Interventions/referrals

Reviews

Case closure

Case management – children with families

▪ Child protection policy

▪ Psychological suport as a rule

▪ Child`s right to be heard

▪ Inter-disciplinary approach when in doubt if child`s best

interest is parents` main focus

No Detention Necessary project

• 34 adults/ 33 children

• 8 case resolutions (20%)

• 91% of PoCs remain engaged with the project

• 100% cases record positive impact of case management on wellbeing

and decision-making

Case study

Views to expand?

European ATD network

▪ set up in March 2017

▪ aims to collectively build evidence and act as a hub of learning on effective alternatives to detention.

▪ Through practical implementation, and qualitativeand quantitative evaluation, we want better to understand and capture knowledge on models and processes which effectively engage migrants to resolve their cases in the community.

▪ We hope to initiate discussions and collaborationbetween government, civil society, EU institutionsand other stakeholders and support furtherdevelopment and expansion of engagement-basedalternatives in the region.

▪ We aspire to be a movement for alternatives whichcan build migration governance systems which don’trely on detention.

European ATD network

Members:

• Centre for Legal Aid – Voice in Bulgaria

• Future Worlds Centre (Cyprus)• Detention Action (UK)• Association for Legal Intervention

(SIP) (Poland)• Platform Minors in Exile (Belgium)• Flemish Refugee Action (Belgium)• Platform for International

Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)

• International Detention Coalition (IDC)

Is this solution effective? – key figures in thenetwork progress report

3 alternatives to detention pilot projects in 3 EU countries

Running since 2017 with 6 case managers

A total of 93 clients so far

97% of individuals remained engaged and didn’t abscond

Of sample for qualitative evaluation*:

77% clients previously detained, 65% with vulnerabilities

Positive impact towards case resolution in majority of cases (88%)

Improved coping and well-being for 100% of clients

*Analysis of 31 randomly chosen cases from the three pilots.