The United States has long served as a refuge for people who seek to escape hunger, poverty, torture, and the oppression of the human spirit in their own countries. However, the issue of immigration in the United States has become a political flashpoint since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The sacralization of the tragedy has served to paint all immigrants with the same fear-ladened brush, and has marginalized and stereotyped an already vulnerable population. Today, more than ever, immigrants in the United States face increasing stressors as they try to assimilate in a politically charged post 9/11 world. To be an effective social worker, immigration issues and multicultural awareness is critical. Mary and Mario, a couple who is seeking marital therapy, will serve to illustrate the immigration issues a clinician should consider when assessing a client system in therapy.
Mary, a 32-year-old Caucasian woman and her husband, Mario, a 40-year-old Latino man have been married for three years. They have both been married in the past but have no children. They report that since Mary returned to school there have been frequent arguments. Recently the fights have increased in frequency and have become violent. Mary complains that Mario is too possessive and is jealous of all her male friends. She feels physically threatened and wants to leave him. Mario feels that Mary never spends time at home anymore, and is no longer interested in him.
While it is imperative not to make assumptions about a client because of their race, it is important to ask questions about their cultural identity, and if they have emigrated from another country. This ipsychosocial detail is significant because a growing body of research attests to neg...
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...t, chances are that Mary and Mario will come to honor each other's diverse experiences, and will be able to fully embrace the ethos that is the American dream together.
Works Cited
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Kaltman, S., De Mendoza,, A. H., Gonzales, F. A., Serrano, A., & Guarnaccia, P. (2011). Contextualizing the trauma experience of women immigrants from Central America, South America, and Mexico. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 24(6), 635-642.
Moreno, C. L., & Guido, M. (2005). Social work practice with Latino Americans. In D. Lum (Ed.), Cultural competence, practice stages, and client systems (pp. 88-106). Belmont, CA: Brooks Cole.
Sue, D. W. (2006). Multicultural social work practice. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
The Sanchez family are riddled with a unique set of problems for a social worker to intervene and provide assistance. Being a family that immigrated to the United States, they are managing many problems within the family that is ranging from disability, substance abuse, and immigration. This paper is a case analysis of each particular family member in the Sanchez family. Each family member will be analyzed and issues will be prioritized. Also, an intervention or a clinical resolution will be introduced to the best of the writer’s knowledge. Lastly, this writer will reflect on herself to determine her level of empathy and sympathy towards each family in the Sanchez family. Each family member is presenting individual problems and indicators that there is an underlying issue that needs intervention.
Brenda Garcia is a 19-year-old Mexican-American, born in the United States but raised in Chihuahua, Mexico. She had been living Chihuahua, Chihuahua Mexico for all of her life with the exception of staying summers trips to the US and to see family members that reside in the States but for the most part Brenda lived in what is considered the main city of Chihuahua, as her family owns a small business. She attended all of grade school in Mexico and lived a normal life until the cartel violence became too prevalent in 2013-2014. Brenda then decided to move to the States in 2014 as a full time student in Colorado State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work and a minor in business. She’s has since been living on campus getting accustomed to living in a different environment both socially and economically.
Another issue addressed by the American Psychological Association is the new spectrum of patients. This includes migratory workers, international workers, immigrants, temporary immigrants, undocumented immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and international students. These clients present various issues to their counselors regarding culture shock, acculturation, assimilation, uprooting, language barriers, economic, housing, and medical problems. Many counselors that these clients can afford to enlist for help are not well cultured in addressing their cultural issues. Cultural competency is another large scale
Piedra, L.M., Andrade, C.D., & Larrison, C.R. (2011). Building response capacity: The need for universally available language services. In L.P. Buki, & L.M. Piedra (Eds.), Creating Infrastructures for Latino Mental Health, Part 1 (pp. 55-75). New York, NY: Springer Science & Business Media, LLC. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4419- 9452-3_3
The Latino community, from immigrating to United States born Latinos are often known to be depressed. Depression is a medical illness that causes a constant feeling of sadness and lack of interest, it affects how the person feels, behaves and thinks. Many Latinos rely on their extended family, community, traditional healers, or churches for help during a health crisis. As a result, many Latinos with mental illnesses often go without professional mental treatment. But why is it that Latinos are so reluctant to receiving help? Sheila Dichoso states that, “there are only 29 Latino mental-health professionals for every 100,000 Latinos in the United States, compared to 173 non-Hispanic white providers per 100,000 non-Hispanic whites.” Coming along this information completely amazed me, knowing that there is a vast difference between Latino and non-Hispanic white mental health providers is shocking.
Although many of the policies in place seem more focused around the children of immigrates and the opportunities they are offered. Such as: “ensure access to higher education for the children of immigrants” and “ensure appropriate immigration-related services to undocumented minors in foster care and, if they are eligible, adjustment of their status before they leave foster care” (NASW, 2015, p. 179). When it comes to working with immigrates: “social workers not only need to be aware of the special needs of this population, but also need to understand the dynamics of migration and the interface between immigration and immigrant policies” (NASW, 2015, p. 178). The immigrates that are coming into the United States are coming from all different cultures, and as social workers, we should do our best to attempt to understand their different customs and
These issues also include poverty and limited or no access to education, training, mental health and health care resources. Refugees also face persecution and are unable to return to their home in their native country (Villalba, 2009). Mental health counselors need to understand the impact of trauma on their refugee clientele, as they may include physical torture and mental abuse in nature. According to Sue and Sue (2013) counselors will need to address the most salient concerns of refugees, which include safety and loss. The possibility of being, or having been, mentally abused and physically tortured has an impact on their ability to stay in the hosting country. Counselors will be dealing with post-traumatic stress from their client. Equally important is for the counselor to assist the refugee in understanding issues of confidentiality. For Muslim immigrants and refugees, counselors should consider national policies during the counseling process. For example, the two Sudanese sisters’ were able to resolve their religious practice of wearing the hijab and securing employment in a beneficial way. As an advocate for the sisters and other Muslim refugees, it would be helpful to provide them access to resources that educate them in antidiscrimination policies that can protect them against hate crimes and legal resources that can help them seek asylum. In essence, culturally competent practices for counselors working with immigrants and refugees begin with understanding their worldviews, as well the national and international legal issues that confront their
According to Stotts and Ramey (2009) regardless of citizenship or type of exploitation, survivors have many obstacles to overcome. The effects are both mental and physical. Medical attention is needed for most victims not only as a result of repeated rape or beatings, but also the lack of preventative care, dehydration and starvation. Many victims are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Minor illnesses are left untreated until they can no longer be ignored or the victim dies. The mental and emotional abuse victims deal with require extensive therapy (p.4).
Pichardo, C. M. (2003). Latinos' perceptions toward foster care. (Order No. 1416472, California State University, Long Beach). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.jproxy.lib.ecu.edu/docview/305229342?accountid=10639. (305229342).
In general, Immigration statuses play a strong influence on Latino mental health. A high percent of Hispanics do not have insurance, and also the lack of Spanish speaking mental health staff makes it difficult to monitor any effectiveness in treatment. The Hispanic community is taking gigantic steps within the political realm amid harsh criticism, unveiling the destructive label of anti-immigration laws and taking measures of creating sensitive mental health services for Latino
The prevalence of trauma of all types is widespread throughout much of the world and includes trauma from accident, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, political conflict, war, or other human struggles. The many faces of bullying, hatred, economic insecurity and oppression (racism, sexism) leave a steady stream of survivors carrying the burdens of fear, anxiety, rage, and physical illness.
Norris, Fran H. “Epidemiology of Trauma: Frequency and Impact of Different Demographic Groups.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 60.3 (1992): 409–418. Print.
...ices and psychiatric treatment requires tailoring to the individual or community needs. Shouldn’t we facilitate other supportive modalities to fill in for the lack of validity and efficacy of the current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches? The United States is home to many immigrant groups and is a beacon for people seeking protection. As health providers in the United States, we have the privilege of working with diverse populations including asylees and refugees, offering and participating in the global health services on our soil, and trying to appropriately heal and address the well-being of people entrapped between cultures and systems. The United States welcomes thousands of refugees each year. This welcome can be extended and supported by expanding our cultural understanding and addressing of mental illnesses and psychosocial factors affecting their health.
Immigrant and Minority Health; New York. Vol. 16, Issue 2, P. 301-9. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9743-y
My specific task for the practicum was to develop a mental health component for Project RICE. I carried out my assignments under the supervision of a faculty member; Dr. Smith. Dr. Smith is a Professor of Applied Psychology. Dr. Smith conducts research on the impact of immigration, community contexts, individual differences, and racial minority status on the mental health of individuals and families.