Family Assignment 4

Bernal, G. (2006). Intervention Development and Cultural Adaptation Research With Diverse Families. Family Process, 45(2), 143-151. doi: 10.1111/j.545-5300.2006.00087.x

Bernal’s (2006) research focuses on answering how ethnicity and culture play a role in the treatment process and how interventions may need to be adapted or tailored to meet the needs of diverse families? Bernal’s research looks at a framework that included neurobiological, cognitive, developmental, and epidemiologic research; the development of interventions, testing of the efficacy of interventions; practice research; review of findings to identify effective interventions; and the social, economic, and cultural context. Findings in these five areas were considered a basis for developing and testing interventions among a total of seven articles. The seven articles showed a range of treatment development and cultural adaptation research with diverse populations at different points in the research development process. The research found that there is little research on family interventions and the family process should be an area for treatment research.

Celando, M. P., & Kaslow, N.J. (2000). Culturally competent family interventions: Review and case illustrations. American Journal Of Family Therapy, 28(3), 217-228. doi: 10.1080/01926180050081658

Due to the extensive lack of research on culturally competent family interventions, Celando & Kaslow’s (2000) study seeks to critically review assessment and intervention strategies for use with ethnic minority families in the United States. This article pinpoints how cultural factors will affect minority families. The family’s culturally based definitions of the nature, timing, significance, tasks, and rituals of li...

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.... Both the I-statements and the Family Sculpting interventions helped Pooja Patel (the grandmother/mother-in-law) and Marsela Patel (the mother) communicate effectively and actually listen to their wants and needs for the benefit of the family dynamic.

Throughout their time together, the social worker has noticed that while communication was addressed and the interventions applied to the Patel family were beneficial, they have yet to explore feelings about the death of Hiten Patel. The feelings of grief were one of the main reasons that the family dynamic began to shift and deserves further exploration and counseling for each of the family members. Although the Patel family has responded well to therapy and plans to pursue higher levels of communication, the social worker has recommended some additional resources for them to continue counseling.