Social Justice for Children of Undocumented Latino’s: Understanding the reasons and helping to find solution’s for maltreatment of undocumented Latino children and families Abstract Latinos are the largest growing population in the United States. Many of these Latinos are undocumented and do not qualify for the same programs as those in the country legally, the children of these undocumented Latinos are suffering. Maltreatment of these children and the causes need to be better understood and social service systems need to be put in place to fairly provide for these children. Before we can put the correct systems in place it is imperative that we as social service providers learn and understand the Latino Culture in order to build …show more content…
trust in communities and create programs that will educated parents and keep these children from harm. Keywords: Latino’s, maltreatment, social injustice, acculturation, migration What is the social justice issue you chose? Be sure this issue is relevant to Hispanics and social work. As social workers we set out to serve those who can not serve or protect themselves.
We work with the broken; we advocate for the weak and strive to make the world fair place for everyone living here. I have chosen the topic of Child Welfare looking specifically at maltreatment of immigrant Latino children. It is imperative that social workers in the child welfare understand the impact that migration and acculturation has had on each family unit in the child welfare system. Fear, stress, isolation and the uncertain future are often as a result of migration felt by many Latino immigrants. As parents and children experience change in culture along with the loss of a previous support system, a variety of different strains are put on the family unit. All of the stressors are what put immigrant children at a greater risk of maltreatment. It is important that social workers also understand that children in immigrant families are often considered at increased risk of maltreatment due to the stress and pressure experienced by the family system resulting from migration and acculturation (Korbin & Spilsbury, 1999; Roer-Strier, 2001). Fear, stress, loss, isolation, and uncertainty about the future are factors often experienced by Latino immigrants as a result of migration. Additional pressures resulting from acculturation often lead to a variety of strains and difficulties on the family system, as parents and children experience changing cultural contexts along with the loss of …show more content…
previously established support systems (Partida, 1996; Roer-Strier, 2001). Latino children and families are often treated as a homogenous group, with little understanding of the potential differences that may exist between immigrant and native-born families. Stereotyping and creating a blanket set of child welfare laws that are to help Latino children must not be allowed in our child welfare system. As social workers we must strive to understand the experiences that occur in both native-born Latino families and those who have immigrated to our county. Why did you select this particular issue? Be sure to address this question as it relates to Hispanics, social justice, and social systems. You must be able to tie all these components together. Social workers in the child welfare system must understand the impact that migration and acculturation has had on each family system, and how these experiences may have contributed to their involvement with the child welfare system. Culturally competent practice with Latino immigrant families requires that social workers clearly assess the cultural values and traditions of immigrant families and how these values and traditions may impact service delivery and intervention. Understanding the influence of culture is critical to addressing issues of child maltreatment, as research indicates that both child-rearing practices and ideologies are influenced by and vary across cultures (Korbin & Spilsbury, 1999; Roer-Strier, 2001). Cultural values shape the ways in which families view their problems, accept responsibility, and respond to interventions. The lack of understanding of the influence of culture has been cited as the primary barrier to adequate assessment and effective intervention in cases of child maltreatment among immigrant families (Shor, 1999). As a result, culturally competent practice with Latino immigrant children and families requires more than just a general understanding of Latino culture and improved accessibility of services. In order to adequately assess for risk, social workers need to understand and address issues of culture, migration, and acculturation with each family system, and the effect these issues have on cases of child maltreatment. As social workers we are to follow the guidelines and ethics as dictated by the The National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
The NASW (2001), defines cultural competence as the “integration and transformation of knowledge about individuals and groups of people into specific standards, practices, and attitudes used in appropriate cultural settings to increase the quality of services, thereby producing better outcomes” (pg. 12). This operational definition requires that social workers not only understand the cultural backgrounds of their clients, but also use their knowledge of their clients’ backgrounds to inform and guide their practice. As applied to child welfare, culturally competent workers understand the unique cultural values, beliefs, and experiences of the families with whom they work and practice interventions that respond to the specific cultural needs and experiences of each family. This involves an awareness of how the family’s culture influences their behavior, their view of the current situation, and their response to potential
interventions. What current research findings are relevant to this issue? Present these in enough detail that the reader/audience knows that you understand the findings and how they were reached Latino children are the largest and fastest growing ethnic minority group in the United States. In 2008, Latino children represented nearly one quarter (22%) of all children under the age of 18 (Fry & Passel, 2009). With this growth, the proportion of child maltreatment victims that are of Latino ethnicity has been growing since 2000, and disparities in child welfare dynamics have been identified for Latino children when compared to other U.S. ethnic groups (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Latino families face multiple unique challenges that may place them at risk (Maiter, Stalker, & Alaggia, 2009). Additional pressures resulting from acculturation can lead to a variety of strains and difficulties on family systems, as parents and children experience changing cultural contexts along with the loss of previously established support systems (Roer-Strier, 2001). Compounding these stressors are legislative initiatives that restrict immigrant families' access to many supportive services, affecting even those with legal status. The result is not only greater economic instability, but also fear that can drive families already under stress into deeper isolation, resulting in increased vulnerability (Capps, Fortuny, & Fix, 2007; Fortuny, Capps, Simms, & Chaudry, 2009). Facilitating effective change for these families first requires that social workers understand the extent to which acculturative stress has contributed to the issues of maltreatment and identify interventions that address the underlying causes of these issues. Conflict, stressful life events, are all associated with immigrant families who are experiencing high levels of acculturative stress (Cadzow, Armstrong, & Fraser, 1999; Miller, Fox, & Garcia-Beckwith, 1999). As shown through research, education and practices in social work it is important to acknowledge that European American middle class values and treatment goals have been assumed to apply to every one (By: Amy Seipel, MSW, LSW, and Ineke Way, Ph.D., ACSW, LMSW_. Pinderhughes, 1989), Pinderhughes, (1989), suggests that these values differ from what diverse cultural may prefer. In looking at the Latino cultural it is important to include the working family system (including extended family), the changes they have experienced in their environment, and how intervention is introduced from the social systems that they interact with. It is important to acknowledge that all immigrants do not experience an equal playing field in social acceptance. Immigrants face greater obstacles in obtaining access to the white middle class mainstream and may receive lower returns for their education and work exercise. The obstacles are creating issues from the start of their lives in our new country leading to higher rates of family stress and difficulty meeting basic needs thus leading to greater susceptibility to child maltreatment. In 2008, Latino children represented 20.7% of all physical abuse victims, 20.2% of all sexual abuse victims; 22.7% of all neglect victims; and 33.8% of all psychological maltreatment victims USDHHS, (2011), suggests a disproportional representation of Latino victims. This finding led to the implication that these numbers could actually be much higher with knowledge of characteristics of maltreatment patterns, i
It is crucial to understand the historical context of immigration in America. Initially, most immigrants were from Europe and were not restricted by any immigration laws. Now, most immigrants come from Latin America but are restricted to severe immigration laws. The Latino/a community is one of the most severely affected groups because the current immigration system disproportionally affects Latino/as. Recognizing how the experience of Latino/a immigrants have been both similar and different in the past from other immigrant groups and dispelling common misconceptions about Latino/as today brings awareness of how Latino/as are affected.
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
It is important to include cultural issues in the helping process to be more effective. We also need cultural competence because the U.S. is becoming more diverse. Therefore with diversity comes different beliefs, norms, and values. Eurocentric values dominate sciences and began cultural universals which puts the clash of dominate and non-dominate cultural behaviors in motion. In 1996 the NASW Code of Ethics increased the recognition of cultural competence. It is important to know diversity exist within ethnic and cultural groups because social workers need to know that relationships between helping professionals and clients may be strained. This happens because of the distrust between groups. Another important aspect is that the professional realizes their own values, biases, and beliefs. The reason for this is because they must value diversity to start with and understand the dynamics of difference. Culturally competent practitioners have to go through developmental process of using their own culture as a starting point to meet all behaviors. Striving for cultural competence is a long term process of development. The literature on cultural competence is theoretical and conceptual. They have not been evaluated in a systematic way. Roughly there are 2 million Native americans in the U.S. Which survive decimating disease, over-repressed in child welfare system, suffer from health problems, and are among the poorest people in the United States. Working with them clearly falls within the social work clearly mandate to serve vulnerable and oppressed clients. However, we do not know how many people from this group is actually receiving help from social workers. Even though it is important to train social workers to provide care in th...
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...
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
What would it be like to wake up everyday knowing you would get bullied, mistreated, and/or abused just because of where you were born? Discrimination still exists! “Discrimination remains and there is an increase in hate crimes against Hispanics, Latinos and Mexican-Americans, as one of the perceived symbols of that discrimination, the U.S.-Mexico Border Fence, nears completion. Instead of pulling together in these difficult times, we may see a greater polarization of attitudes” (Gibson). But why are hate crimes increasing towards Latin and Hispanic aliens and what types of discrimination are occurring against them? Understanding violence towards the Hispanic and Latin alien is divided into three main classes; the difference between legal and illegal aliens, the attacks and effects, and the point of view of different people towards aliens.
In the U. S today, the approximated population of undocumented immigrants stands at averagely 11 million. Therefore, this has created a hot debate in Congress about the action to take over the undocumented immigrants. Those opposed to illegal immigrants suggest that, their stay in the United States effects U.S citizens on the job market negatively . In addition, illegal immigrants are viewed in certain quarters as takers in the sense that illegal immigrants benefit more from public resources than the american-born citizens of the U.S. However, the reality is that immigrants contribute positively to the U.S economy and pay significantly into the system compared to what they send back home. In addition, the contributions associated with undocumented immigrants involve sustaining the solvency of the SSTF (Social Security Trust Fund). In this sense, the use of cost benefit analysis by those supporting immigration restrictions are unfounded and do not reflect the facts on the ground (Nadadur 1037). The opponents of undocumented immigrants believe that having more undocumented immigrants in the U.S is costly; however, there are no solid reasons to prove that undocumented immigrants are a burden to the treasury. Instead, the undocumented immigrants play an important role in boosting the economy and in particular by taking up jobs those citizens perceive as demeaning because the money they earn goes back to the economy through taxes resulting from consumer spending when they send money back home.
The policies implemented by the United States to strengthen the border and enforce immigration policies have led to the abuse and profiling of undocumented immigrants. Undocumented immigrants live in constant fear of deportation and are subjected to multiple human rights violations as they are abused, exploited and discriminated against. Immigrants are racialized and stereotyped. The US government has passed laws that discriminate against undocumented immigrants, making it harder for them to live and survive in America. These laws are due to the perception that undocumented immigrants are a burden on the US economy, but on the contrary undocumented immigrants provide an economic benefit to the US, and due to the benefit they provide society
Cultural Competence Understanding culture is an important aspect of being a social worker; this does not mean learning common cultural traits is of great significance to the social work profession. “Consider the second-generation Japanese-American social worker whose practice consists of Mexican-American and African-American families. Memorizing national traits or cultural rituals would be interesting and informative, but ultimately these would be an inaccurate basis on which to “know” these particular families” (Dorfman, 1996, p. 33). When understanding cultural competence, it is important to learn from the client about their culture in order to serve them in the most helpful and efficient way possible. There is a major drawback to memorizing information, and that is, this information will not give you a real understanding of who your client is and what life experiences they have personally faced.
We don’t realize how hard it is for immigrant parents to get their children education, and we judge and hate on something we have never been through. I guess it’s true you never know someone’s pain unless you go through it. Not everyone has the same privileges as others, some have to work twice as hard to try to give their children an opportunity towards an education on the contrary some American families have it simpler. I not blaming people who have families who were born here or say it’s wrong, but many people tend to affront children of immigrant parents and feel like they have the equitableness to say they aren’t suitable to receive public education.
A large part of the undocumented population was formed by Asian immigrants. Many of them have been deported by Obama Administration. Moreover, many of these are refugees who fled to the U.S. after the wars in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, had entered the United States as infants and toddlers. They have little or no family connection. Thousands of Cambodians and Vietnamese have faced the prospect of deportation (Hing 48). Some of the organizations, such as Asian Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy and Leadership appealed to Barack Obama administration to halt further deportations and has staged protests to raise awareness and engender action against deportation (Hing 49). However, according to Rep. Judy Chu, chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, undocumented young people from Asian and Pacific Island nations make up only 2.6 percent of recipients of deportation relief under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, even though they account for about 8 percent of those eligible (Foley 56). Asian Americans do not get the same level of attention as Latino American because of the myth of “model minority”. The public can only see the good side of Asian immigrants in the U.S. Many of the stories about undocumented Asian immigrants are unknown. Jose Antonio Vargas who came to America in his early age. He is a successful journalist and activist. But now he is facing the risk of being
Latinos face a lot of discrimination when they come to the united stated or they try to assimilate to the American culture. Most immigrants have to deal with the police investigating them because they think they are all drug dealers or are in some type of illegal organization. They also have to deal with people calling them names because of their skin color. Americans also accuse Hispanics of stealing their jobs (Ramos, 53). They also face seeing racist graffiti on homes or wall of a building and they have to face hate crimes (Plunkett, 15). They sometimes get excluded from white communities (Plunkett, 39). Latinos are also blamed for serious problems the country faces (Ramos, 195). There are reasons for Americans to discriminate Latinos and reasons why they shouldn’t discriminate them.
Cultural Competence is being able to engage in respectful and effective practice with diverse individuals, families, and communities, preserving their dignity and affirming their worth. A social worker should be aware of their clients’ cultural and environmental contexts, in order to know a client’s strengths, but cultural competence is never fully realized, achieved, or completed, but rather cultural competence is a lifelong process for social workers who will always encounter diverse clients and new situations in their practice. Social workers should have a knowledge base of their clients’ cultures and be able to demonstrate competence in the provision of services that are sensitive to clients’ cultures. Social workers should obtain education
It is imperative that social workers become knowledgeable about their clients’ cultures and are culturally sensitive. In learning about their clients’ cultures, social workers need to be aware of how powerful and significant culture is in relating to clients’ behavior, values, and beliefs. Becoming culturally competent requires the ability to integrate awareness, knowledge, and skills while maintaining a positive working relationship with the client (Sue and Zane, 1987). Today, the concerns regarding cultural competency continue to accentuate the importance of preparing social workers for a diversified society.
Social worker will need to have a list of resources and referral available that could greatly address and help the families with their concerns. Which is why it is vital for social worker to be empathetic and cultural competence to client’s cultural values and beliefs. In order to help people in need in the Latinos community, social worker must first establish rapport with Latino clients. One of the major challenges social worker face is uncertainty about whether they are sufficiently prepared to meet the needs to help oppression in the Latino population. Which is why multicultural counseling is highly important for social worker to posses in order to help the Latino