The use of Persuasive Communication by Social Workers in the Adaptation Process of Unaccompanied Minors

Illegal immigrants under 18 years of age who come to Indonesia and are without a parent or a guardian are referred to as UAM (Unaccompanied Minors). During their stay in Indonesia, they remain in a detention center before proceeding to special accommodation that provides services and cares to these unaccompanied minors. This study aimed to construct the notion of how the social workers rested on persuasive communication as to providing the special accommodation to UAM and how these UAM began adapting to life in a new culture in Medan City. Results indicated that the persuasive communication broke down and failed due to noise, UAM’ lack of knowledge of what the future held for them, and social workers’ lack of obligation that required them to guide the UAM through the completion of the interviews to gain admission into the destination country. The process of UAM’ adaptation to the new surrounding was inhibited by the social workers and DCH (Dinsos Community House) officers to avoid potential social gaps and conflicts with the locals. The UAM, instead, was thriving on intercultural adaptation with the fellow immigrants from 4 countries. The adaptation, so far, has shown no sign of major conflicts.