Latino Family Risk and Protection

Paper Summary:

This paper examines cultural, social, psychological and biological issues regarding the Latino immigrant population in the United States by focusing on one particular case study. The paper emphasizes the importance of this study for social workers who work with the Latino population and stresses the moral responsibility of the social worker to act correctly through constant self-evaluation, in order to avoid prejudice in the treatment of diverse clients such as the Latino population. The paper concludes that confronting these issues before beginning treatment may allow the social worker to prepare engagement strategies for building better rapport with Latino clients.

Outline:
Family Risk/Protection/Resilience Framework
Biological, Medical, and Cognitive Factors of Development
Adult Psychosocial Development
Intervention

From the Paper:

"Although faced with adversity and socio-environmental hardship, resiliency is distinguished among many Latino immigrant children (Gonzalez-Ramos & Nester-Sanchez, 2001). It appears as though Esmerelda has been able to maintain a high level of psychosocial functioning and academic success while balancing the demands of two worlds: mi tierra and my country (Gonzalez & Gonzalez-Ramos, 2005; Gonzalez-Ramos & Nester-Sanchez, 2001). As a Latino immigrant, Esmerelda has faced multiple challenges posed by biculturism, but, as a lesbian woman of color, her experience may actually be described as triculturism. Triculturism will be defined as oppression due to three factors: heterosexism and negative stigma imposed by societal prejudice to sexual orientation; racial discrimination against people of color; and limited acceptance of sexual orientation within the racial community of origin. (Harper, Jernewall, & Zea, 2004)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Falicov, C. (1998). Journeys of migration: Opportunity and continuity. In C. Falicov, Latino families in therapy: A guide to multicultural practice (pp.46-66). New York: Guilford Press.
• Fraser, M.W., Richman, J.M., & Galinsky, M.J. (1999). Risk, protection, and resilience: Toward a conceptual framework for social work practice. Social Work Research, 23, 131-143.
• Goldstein, E.G. (1995). Ego psychology and social work practice. New York: The Free Press.
• Gonzalez, M.J. (2002). Mental health intervention with Hispanic immigrants: Understanding the influence of the client's worldview, language, and religion. Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Services, 1(1), 81-92.
• Gonzalez, M.J. & Gonzalez-Ramos, G. (2005). Mental health care for new Hispanic immigrants: Innovative approaches in contemporary clinical practice (pp. 28-56). Bingham, NY: The Hayworth Social Work Practice Press.

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