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.
In the social work practice, social workers should abide by and respect the protocol of their particular organization. The first ethical standard I would like to discuss is that a social worker has cultural competence and social (NASW, 1999). A social worker must possess the knowledge of values, customs, tradition and history, just to name a few, in order to have success with clients that may identify as something other than their own identity. Culture directly impacts human behavior. Within this case study, due to Mrs. Sanchez’s culture, she struggled to assimilate with the American culture and this included her being able to learn the English language.
... Joyce Dorado. "Who Are We, But For The Stories We Tell: Family Stories And Healing." Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, And Policy 2.3 (2010): 243-249. PsycARTICLES. Web. 2 May 2014.
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
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.
Rogler, L. H., D. E. Cortes, et al. (1991). "Acculturation and mental health status among Hispanics. Convergence and new directions for research." Am Psychol 46(6): 585-597.
The purpose of the assessment is to address the competence of different cultures. As a number of Haitian immigrants in to the United States, it continues to grow at a steady rate (DeSilva, Gonzales-Eastep, Grey, & Nicolas, 2006). It is very important that mental health providers become better informed, and develop the skill sets necessary to combine the providers’ and clients’ cultural backgrounds into the treatment (DeSilva, Gonzales-Eastep, Grey & Nicolas, 2006). I will be conducting an assessment on, Mrs. Hudson an Haitian American woman who was referred by her primary care doctor, because of symptoms that; she is experiencing when she leaves her home. This is Mrs. Hudson’s first time to a mental health counselor.
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).
The general purpose of this study was to find out how attitudes and acculturation processes of people of African American descent impacted their willingness and attitudes toward receiving psychological help. While this was a broa...
Fortuna, Lisa R, MD and Michelle V Porche, EdD. “Clinical Issues and Challenges in Treating Undocumented Immigrants.” Psychiatirc Times. 15 Aug. 2013. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
“They are willing to sell themselves in order to find a better life for themselves or
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.
A topic crucial to the world today is illegal immigration. Illegal immigration is when people live in a country without permission from the government, nor have any legal documentation. As more and more illegal immigrants enter the United States, it either upsets some people, or others feel like they should just grant them ability to pursue life, liberty, and happiness because that is what the Constitution says. Some people feel that illegal immigrants should be protected by the same rights and laws as American citizens. On the other hand, many people believe that this is a horrible mistake. They feel that the rights of citizenship should be earned and not extended to people who haven broken the law just by being in the United States.
Post-Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after a traumatic or life-threatening event such as war, assault, or disaster. In most cases refugees are exposed to and carry these experiences of hostility, violence, racism, discrimination, and isolation with them to their new environment (Kulwicki,A., & Ballout,S., 2008). The resettlement period for refugees is found to be extremely critical because it inflames existing symptoms of PTSD in addition to increasing them.
Reinholtz, R. H., Mueklenard, C. L., Phelps, J. L. & Satterfield, A. T. (1995). A review of cultural perpetrator, victim, and situational variables. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 5, 91-122