The Latino population has become the nation’s largest ethnic minority (McGoldrick, Giordano, & Garcia-Preto, 2005). Their skin color, language, and culture have become a tool for oppression (McGoldrick, et al., 2005). Ecological adaptation is the result of what migrant families go through before and after migrating to the U.S. since they go through the socio-historical and cultural context changes; Ecological Systems Theory helps social workers understand ecological adaptations (Casanova, O’connor, & Anthony-Stevens, 2016). Some of the changes migrant families go through are linguistic, cultural, traditional, and physical (Casanova, et. al., 2016). Social workers need to learn about Latinos to be able to identify interventions to help them overcome oppression and adjust to their new environments. When working with Latinos, Ecological Systems Theory can help social workers because the theory helps them understand the microsystems, which refers to how people interact with their environments, and the mesosystems, which refers to how their environments influence their personas. This paper will discuss the Ecological Systems Theory, how it applies to the Lopez Family and interventions at the micro and …show more content…
messo level. The Lopez Family The Lopez Family consist of five members: Mr.
Lopez (Dad), Mrs. Lopez (Mom), Tomas (son), Gabriela (Daughter), and David (Son). Mr. Lopez and Tomas migrated from Guatemala. Mr. Lopez first wife died on their journey to the United States while giving birth to Gabriela. Gabriela’s nationality is unknown since her mother gave birth on the border between Mexico and U.S. Mrs. Lopez and David were both born in the U.S. Mrs. Lopez’s family is originally from Mexico. The family has different conflicts that interfere with their daily activities. They struggled financially, and they have struggled for Mr. Lopez, Tomas, and Gabriela’s legal status. Mrs. Lopez’s family recently got deported to Mexico. The interventions of the family members will be discussed throughout the
paper. Ecological Systems Theory Ecological Systems Theory was developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner (1979) (Neal & Neal, 2013). Ecological Systems Theory suggests that individuals exist within a variety of settings, starting at the individual level and extending outward (Duerden, & Witt, 2010). Ecological Systems Theory is recognized for understanding the importance of interdependent and multilevel systems on the individual development (Neal & Neal, 2013). In other words, individuals behave differently at different settings, for example, individuals act differently with family members compare how they interact at school or work. Ecological Systems helps social workers understand how people interact with their environments, and how their environments influence their persona. Bronfenbrenner believed that individuals develop their persona based on their environments and things they are surrounded by. Bronfenbrenner divided Ecological Systems into four different levels: microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem (Duerden, & Witt, 2010). This paper will only define the microsystem and the mesosystem and how its applied in the family’s intervention. Microsystem Microsystem involves the immediate environment in which the individual interacts such as neighborhood, school, home, playground, and religious institutions (Owuegbuzie, Collins, & Frels, 2013). Bronfenbrenner (1994) defined microsystems as a “pattern of activities, social roles, and interpersonal relations experienced by the developing person in a given face-to-face setting with particular physical, social, and symbolic features…” Microsystem refers to the immediate interaction between the individual and people who share the immediate surrounding environments, such as parents, peers, and teachers (Casanova, et. al., 2016). Interactions within the microsystem typically involved relationships with a family member, classmates, teachers, and caregivers. Mesosystem Bronfenbrenner (1994) defined mesosystem as the linkage between two or more settings of the individual development, for example, the relations between home and school, and home and workplace. Mesosystem consist the varies microsystems affecting the individual, such as child-parent, parent-teacher, or parent- community (Casanova, et. al., 2016). In other words, the mesosystem contains the relationships between two microsystems. The interaction between the two microsystems helps with the individual’s development. For example, the interaction Mr. Lopez and Mrs. Lopez were having with Tomas’ school counselor; they were both immediate surroundings of Tomas. The counselor and the parents were having a meeting to help Tomas with her behavior and to improve his focus at school. The Microsystem and Mesosystem of the Lopez Family The social worker will need to identify each family member’s microsystem and mesosystem, in order to identify the appropriate interventions for the family. By examining the family members’ interactions, the social worker will be able to understand how the environment helps the family members identify their personality and development. The mesosystem will help the social worker to identify the relationship of two microsystems. In other words, the social worker will assess the relationship between two different individuals who have immediate contact with the individual, for example, the relationship between the children’s teacher and parents. If they have constant contact than it will reflect on the behavior of the child. The following information will provide the microsystem and the mesosystem of all the family members. Mr. Lopez. The microsystem of Mr. Lopez will be the different relationship he has with his immediate surrounding which includes Mrs. Lopez, Tomas, Gabriela, David, and with his coworkers. Mr. Lopez will interact differently with his children compared to how he interacts with Mrs. Lopez. The microsystem of Mr. Lopez also includes his neighbors. The social worker can examine the different interactions that Mr. Lopez has with all his immediate surroundings. The mesosystem will be when two of the microsystem interact, for example, the interaction of Mrs. Lopez and the neighbors. This will be helpful for the social worker to identify interventions for Mr. Lopez. Mrs. Lopez. The microsystem of Mrs. Lopez includes her interactions with Mr. Lopez, Tomas, Gabriela, David, other teachers, and her students. Mrs. Lopez has different roles depending on where she is at, for example, her role at the school as the teacher and her role as a wife at the house. The microsystem of Mrs. Lopez can also include her interactions with neighbors and parents of her students. The mesosystem of Mrs. Lopez will by the interaction between Mr. Lopez and other teachers. The social worker will assess this two relationships and identify interventions. If the relationship of the other teacher and Mr. Lopez is good, then the social worker would probably focus on another microsystem relationship that is not healthy for the well-being of Mrs. Lopez. Tomas. The microsystem of Tomas includes his teachers, classmates, dad, step-mom, and siblings. The social worker will need to examine his different interactions and see what will be the best apply interventions to help him at school and at his house. The mesosystem will be the relationship between the parents and his teachers. If parents have a good communication with teachers, then Tomas will be successful at school and at the house. Gabriela. The microsystem of Gabriela includes her siblings, dad, step-mom, friends, classmates, and teachers. The social worker will examine her interactions with all her immediate surroundings and identify the influence it has on her persona. The mesosystem, for example, it will be the relationship between friends and siblings. If both microsystems get along than Gabriela won’t have any problems with both microsystem. This will help the social worker assess what areas does Gabriela needs interventions on. David. The microsystem of David includes her classmates, parents, friends, and teachers. The mesosystem will be the relationship between parents and teachers. The social worker will need to assess both relationships and identify possible interventions for David.
Martinez’s story is not so much one that pieces together the events of the crash, nor the lives of the three youths, but it is an immigrant’s tale, discovered through the crossings of the various Chavez family members and profiles of Cheranos in Mexico.
Ecological theory focuses on the how the environment effects the issues within a family. The story stated that the reason that Grande and family are in their predicament is because they were in Mexico. In Mexico they have pain of poverty, lack of job opportunities, inaccessible health care and inability to afford the basic needs of survival which pressurize Grande’s parents to cross the border for seeking financial resources. After Their illegal and undocumented entry in the USA, Grande and her siblings were stressed and had the fear of deportation. Reyna’s experience in the book also demonstrated Family system theory. “According to the family system theory, when something occurs to one family member, all members of that family are affected”. It is assumed that family is a system so what occurs to the one family and what actions taken by affects every
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Since the 1960’s, Latino communities have experienced the implicit and explicit effects of racism through various social institutio...
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As the Latino population in the United States continues to grow, U.S. Census Bureau, 2001, increasing attention is being turned toward understanding the risk and protective factors of immigrant Latino and U.S.-born Latino children and families. The demographic data relating to Latinos in the United States estimate that one of every two people added to the U.S population was Latino, in July 2009 Latino population was the fastest growing minority group U.S Census Bureau, 2010. Despite the increased risk of growing the immigrant families are in lower risk of Social Economic Status, having parents with less education and limited with language and knowledge about education. Immigrating to one place to another is often the most stressful event
... would not be in Tatiana’s best interest to return to Honduras. She would be in a country where there is no one willing to provide her with adequate support and care. Tatiana’s father is deceased and refused to acknowledge his paternity of Tatiana while he was living. See Affidavit A, B. Also, in Honduras, Tatiana’s extended family has proved inadequate and abusive in their care of Tatiana. See Affidavit A, B. In contrast to what awaits Tatiana back in Honduras, Tatiana’s mother and Mr. Mendoza are willing and able to provide Tatiana with the support and care she needs to flourish as an adolescent and into adulthood.
In comparison to other migrating groups, Latinos have had different experiences that have prevented them from completely assimilating into American society. Throughout our history and presently, Latinos continue to face acts of cruelty and...
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Since being developed by Bronfenbrenner in 1979 social ecological perspectives have been widely used to formulate practice guidelines and government policies when planning service needs for children, young people and their families. This essay will discuss what a social ecological perspective consists of, what limitations it may incur and how it can assist us in developing best practice and understanding when working with children, young people and families. It will draw on examples from K218 for illustrative purposes.