cultural considerations when working with immigrants

Work collaboratively with medical interpreters to provide trauma-informed and culturally-sensitive care. These conflicts produce long lines of starving women and children waiting to receive food or medical treatment from organizations under the guidance of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees. In most cultures, women are subservient to men, and added freedom in the United States may alter the family's dynamics. We need to emphasize preventive services in work with immigrant communities. That word being mood. When we discuss stereotypes and bullying, they are also learning these words along with the concepts. PMC This practice-oriented book emphasizes the relevance of Western approaches while reorienting Western concepts to be more culturally sensitive from a domestic and international perspective. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP. & Negi, N. (2012b). This is the reason I am writing this article. 6 A study of undocumented immigrants (15%), documented immigrants (73%), and US-born Latinos (12%) treated in a Hispanic mental health program found that those who were undocumented were more likely to have anxiety, adjustment, and alcohol use disorders. Careers. Alternatively, you can call Vision Psychology Brisbane on (07) 3088 5422. Center for Advanced Studiesin Child Welfare In refugee families, violence is often hidden because the victim is often isolated from the general community and may not know how or where to ask for help. a. A principle challenge for the social work professional is to understand the minds and hearts of immigrants, their desire for education and economic advancement, their interest in mainstream issues while maintaining their own traditions and their inevitable impact on modern day culture. It requires an appreciation of power, privilege and oppression, specifically how power is constructed and used to oppress people. This is what motivated me to go into the field and to advocate for this population. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. Social workers need the support and guidance of culturally competent organizations that can enact a two-prong strategy: (1) continue recruitment and retention of diverse workers that can understand the language and culture of diverse clients; and (2) prepare all staff as culturally and linguistically effective practitioners. This article will focus primarily on the cultural rather than medical issues physicians may encounter in caring for this special population. For example, in many cultures, the patient's family, not the patient, is told the diagnosis, in direct contrast to usual practice in this country.15 Another example of cultural difference is female circumcision (also known as female genital mutilation), present in some African refugees. Cultural considerations are a key component of the D-E-F protocol - helping providers implement culturally sensitive pediatric care in a manner that considers a . Some refugees are from nomadic societies and create problems in this country when they move from one place to another seeking different areas in which to live. BASIC DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTS, Chapter 1: Defining the immigrant and refugee populations, Chapter 2: The context of migration: Pre-arrival, migration and resettlement experiences, Chapter 3: Physical and mental health stabilization: The importance of wellbeing in the adjustment of new immigrants, UNIT II. Distt. Best Practices Guide for Working With Karen, Nepali-Bhutanese, Oromo, and Somali Families in Child Welfare: Second Education Trained medical interpreters, preferably the same gender as the patient, are valuable partners in health care delivery to refugees.14 Because of the sensitive nature of some health issues, it is least desirable to use children or the spouse of a patient. Family and Community Centered Child Welfare Practice With Refugees and Immigrants I appreciate your support always! HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help National Library of Medicine One hypothesis is that genetic vulnerabilities have co-evolved with culture, creating extra protective factors (in this case, extra interdependence). Physicians need to be cognizant of the possibility of abuse in refugee families and identify resources in the community to assist these families. Chapter 7: Practice With Individuals; Chapter 8: Practice With Families Thank you for reading! Because practicing physicians may not be aware of these factors, networking between the refugee agency, the physician and the community or governmental resource is essential in the provision of health care. Many Korean immigrants are college-educated professionals with white collar backgrounds, yet after immigration most are forced to turn to blue-collar jobs or labor-intensive small businesses. Social workers then have to work to change the conditions that continue to oppress immigrants. The ethnic and cultural backgrounds of these individuals are diverse, and many of them need support in order to thrive after migrating to the U.S. Social workers are instrumental in helping people in vulnerable immigrant communities access the tools they need to . Countless times, clients from different cultures have shared with me the relief they gain upon learning how common or expected their issues are. It may be preferable to prescribe as few medicines as possible at a single visit, with extra time given to help the patient understand the treatment protocol. argued that social work education must expand beyond teaching cultural competence to teaching workers how to understand harmful immigration policies and fight against them at the macro level. Cristina Lopez-Scalzo, LMHC. For example, while beating is the most common type of torture, thermal and chemical burns, electrical torture, rape, sexual abuse, environmental manipulation, pharmacologic torture, asphyxiation and suspension by wrists are among other forms of torture used.4 Because torture may leave no telltale physical markings, careful history-taking provides relevant information to the physician. As the facilitator, I use enthusiasm and a thank you to create a safe space where they may be empowered to speak. Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 Sex Roles, 40(5), 347-378. Molloy & Shannon (2020) Personal distance is close (1.5 to 4 feet, or 0.5 to 1.2 meters). You'll get a detailed solution from a subject matter expert that helps you learn core concepts. Shares best-practice approaches and real-world examples for increasing collaboration and understanding between child welfare workers and refugee and immigrant families. negative effects on the immigrants work performance; otherwise, a referral to a culturally competent therapist is suggested. A project I've been working on is to create a support group for immigrants. THEORETICAL ORIENTATIONS AND RE-ORIENTATION, Chapter 4: Transnational practice as the clients process: Reorienting practice with an integrative theoretical approach to practice with immigrants and Refugees, Chapter 5: The perception and experience of everyday discrimination among U.S. immigrants who have arrived in the United states over the last 4 decades represent a wide range of cultures, ethnici-ties, and races. provide substantive examples and exercises of how the chapter theories and concepts can be directly applied in practice. Counseling can nurture this population through its open-ended nature. Your email address will not be published. Many refugees, before entering the United States, have resided in United Nations camps located in countries adjacent to their homelands. Culture affects everything we think about and do- from how we interact with family members, to how we recognize a childs transition into adulthood, to what we do when we feel sick. Women's shelters may not be an option since some shelters may not be able to provide services because of language and cultural barriers. I can relate to some of the experience you talked about, being in the helping profession myself. Over 50,000 youth, mostly between the ages of 13 and 17 years, migrated to the United States (US) without familial accompaniment in the fiscal year 2018. I implement this outlook in my work with each group member or individual client. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Cultural respect is critical to reducing health disparities. INTERVENTION MODALITIES USING AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH, Chapter 9: Support and psychoeducational groups for immigrant women: a working model, Goodman, Letiecq, Vesely, Marquez & Layva, Buller, Chankroesna, Socheat, Chanthao, Sreytha, & Hilton, Chapter 12: Preparing an local and volunteer workforce, UNIT IV. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the "Cultural issues" is a complex construct that often seems vague and indirect. Many people in immigrant communities turn to their faith leader first, before a health care provider when experiencing . Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. We need to build public and private agency partnerships that can address the range of service needs that immigrants present with, and support immigrants especially as they transition to a new way of life. It is an issue especially with regard to immunizations. 2021 Mar;48(1):35-43. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2020.09.005. In some cultures, it is not proper to ask an authority figure, such as a physician, any questions. Moreover, when adapting to the multi-cultural contexts of the . They, too, find comfort in the use of the white board, in having items written down before sharing and in learning new words each time I visit. The mother's and father's surnames will be the surname of the child; the father's name will come first (Malat). Accessibility Supervised administration of some medicine (i.e., tuberculosis prophylaxis) has proven effective in several cities and may be helpful for certain noncompliant patients. Explain cultural considerations that the counselor must account for when working with a client from each of the following groups (100-150 words each): 1. Reviews best practices for child welfare workers engaging with immigrant and refugee families and offers information on staff training and procedures, placement of children, and child welfare intersections with the immigration system. However, when these people leave their . The number of minority nurses meets the needs of the countrys demographics. With this population, culture may or may not play an active role in how individuals make sense of their lives and experiences. Racism and discrimination further oppress immigrants in the U.S., and put all immigrant groups at risk. Stronger adherence to the acculturation orientation related to preserving the immigrant culture was associated with more frequent use of interventions rooted in the . on cultural competence and working with interpreters, andthe University of Minnesota's Introduction to Immigrant and Refugee Health online course, which includes a module on . These linguistic tools facilitate their connection to the program and to each other. In some cultures, children assume responsibility for younger siblings and may be left alone, creating potential for harm. Additionally, the technicalities of counseling are altered. When developed and implemented as a framework, cultural respect enables systems, agencies, and groups of professionals to function effectively to understand the . Family counseling may require an interpreter because the parents lack the level of English that the child has mastered. You can help them find their voice with patience, encouragement and creativity. I have noticed that the members who are more proficient in English are better able and more likely to open up to the group. When working with refugee clients, counselors must take into account various cultural considerations. Change location, Collaboration, Cultural Awareness, and Integrative Theory, April 2017 | 472 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc, UNIT I. Their experience is being shaped by these counseling terms; they have acquired novel methods of gaining and perceiving self-awareness in light of these newly learned concepts. Once their immediate basic health and social needs are met, refugees should be encouraged to participate in the provision of support for others in the community.5 The model of using focused group meetings may offer a non-threatening means for the newcomers to express their concerns and needs in their new country.16, Patients sense whether their physicians care about them as people, regardless of cultural differences.16 Some practical suggestions for physicians who treat patients from different cultures are listed in Table 2.34. Wishing you all the best in life today , tomorrow and always. At least eighteen models of cultural competence have been proposed across disciplines. Disclosure The authors have nothing to disclose. offers resources and websites to further inform practice. Women of the "sandwich" generation and multiple roles: The case of Russian immigrants of the 1990s in Israel. This was very useful. Grounded in critical thinking and strengthened by an ecological systems perspective, the book presents six different models for applying and integrating Western theory and related practice strategies for working with individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations, volunteers, and local workforces. Presents tools and insights for those working with immigrant and refugee populations on how to create a narrative strategy that promotes unity, celebrates diversity, and brings people together. Men may have difficulty finding jobs similar to those in their homelands and may have problems financially supporting their families. Refugee assistance involves a complex web of collaboration between individuals and agencies.3 Most new refugees have a sponsoring agency in the community to assist with the resettlement process, and this agency is a valuable resource for the physician. I am glad the article was helpful for you and even more thrilled that you will be helping this population! In some cultures, certain body parts are considered sacred or blood loss irreversible.12 Therefore, it is worth exploring patients' belief systems regarding illness, as sickness is often believed to arise from physical as well as metaphysical and supernatural forces. In a Word document, provide short answers to the statements below. I suddenly realize that I am mimicking the works of their teachers, using the white board to spell feeling words so they can complete that sessions worksheets. Bridging Refugee Youth and Childrens Services (2018) 2022 Jan-Mar 01;39(1):47-51. doi: 10.1097/CNJ.0000000000000822. This is part 1 of a series. Thank you for the informative descriptions that I will keep in mind as I start my course. When prescribing an antibiotic, the clinician needs to tell the refugee or parent to finish the medicine, especially since the usual custom is to take medicine only until the pain or symptom is gone. Available Formats. Great article! To make an appointment try Online Booking . The counsellor must consider the following cultural considerations when working with a documented immigrant; Political Ideology and Party Identification- Evidence shows that immigrants' political ideologies are concurrent with native-born Americans. Although adult refugees are screened for HIV prior to their U.S. entry, they may become infected just before coming to the United States or become infected soon after entering the country. Political Science & International Relations, Research Methods, Statistics & Evaluation, http://ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html, CCPA Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Question: Explain cultural considerations that the counselor must account for when working with a client from each of the following groups (100-150 words each): Immigrants (Documented and Undocumented) Refugees Discuss the cultural issues and trends that specifically apply to each of the following regional population groups of the United States (100-150 words In addition, as children quickly assimilate into Western culture, conflicts with their parents may arise. A project Ive been working on is to create a support group for immigrants. This article also reviews interventions and best practices that draw on the incorporation of culture into health care and that thus may be effective for building cross-cultural understanding between providers and their immigrant and refugee patients. Domestic violence is a common occurrence in many cultures, with refugee families at increased risk for experiencing abusive situations for several reasons. This article has given me new ideas in terms of how to facilitate the group. The findings are little changed from August 2019, when 77% of U.S. adults said undocumented immigrants fill jobs U.S. citizens do not want. In the past six months, the U.S. has lived through the convergence of three crises: the worst pandemic in 100 years, the worst economic decline since the Great Depression, and multiple incidents of police violence that triggered unrest in many cities as society attempted to reckon with longstanding . Child abuse and neglect may be the result of failed systems of care that further traumatize immigrant parents and children who are at greatest risk. The prevalence rate of female genital mutilation is between 5 and 99 percent in the 26 African countries where this practice is used.25,26 Depending on the extent of the procedure undergone, patients may have a complicated labor and delivery.27 During the second stage of the labor, infibulated patients, ones who received a more severe form of genital mutilation, may require anterior as well as posterior episiotomies before delivering the infant's head.28 These patients challenge the physician during their routine and prenatal visits since pelvic examinations may be difficult to perform or may be painful. Epub 2020 Nov 27. Bridging Refugee Youth and Children's Services, Episode 57: Connecting Cross-Border Families [Podcast], Making Public Systems Work Better for Immigrant Families, Racial Equity Resources for Child Welfare Professionals, Cultural competency in working with immigrant families, Child Welfare Information Gateway is a service of the, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Philosophy and Key Elements of Family-Centered Practice, Family-Centered Practice Across the Service Continuum, Creating a Family-Centered Agency Culture, Risk Factors That Contribute to Child Abuse and Neglect, People Who Engage in Child Abuse or Neglect, Overview: Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect, Public Awareness & Creating Supportive Communities, Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Programs, Developing & Sustaining Prevention Programs, Evidence-Based Practice for Child Abuse Prevention, Introduction to Responding to Child Abuse & Neglect, Differential Response in Child Protective Services, Responding to Child Maltreatment Near Fatalities and Fatalities, Trauma-Informed Practice in Child Welfare, Collaborative Responses to Child Abuse & Neglect, Supporting Families With Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders, Introduction to Family Support and Preservation, In-Home Services Involved With Child Protection, Resources for Managers of Family Support and Preservation Services, Transition to Adulthood and Independent Living, Overview: Achieving & Maintaining Permanency, Recruiting and Retaining Resource Families, Permanency for Specific Youth Populations, Working With Children, Youth, and Families in Permanency Planning, Working With Children, Youth, and Families After Permanency, Resources for Administrators and Managers About Permanency, Children's Bureau Adoption Call to Action, Adoption and Guardianship Assistance by State, For Adoption Program Managers & Administrators, For Expectant Parents Considering Adoption and Birth Parents, Administering & Managing Child Welfare Agencies & Programs, Evaluating Program and Practice Effectiveness, ndice de Ttulos en Espaol (Spanish Title Index), National Foster Care & Adoption Directory, Child Welfare Information Gateway Podcast Series, Culturally responsive child welfare agencies, How the Child Welfare System Can Better Respond to Needs of Children from Immigrant Families, SIJS Caseworkers Toolkit for Children in Federal Custody, Refugees and the U.S. Child Welfare System: A Toolkit for Service Providers, How the Child Welfare System Can Better Respond to Needs of Children From Immigrant Families, Episode 57: Connecting Cross-Border Families. Unfortunately, a general physician may have difficulty detecting this diagnosis in their refugee patients. This can be due to lingual issues or to the stigma that some cultures associate with mental health issues. I will be graduating this May 2015 and I am trying to decide which way to go. Noncompliance with medication and treatment protocol is often a problem. Implications for transnational practice and ethical standards. Contemporary forensic psychiatrists practice in a system that has gender and cultural biases. Organizations should incorporate cultural responsiveness into every level of their structure. It is important to recognize that cultural customs among AI/AN groups may vary significantly, even within a single community. Refugee Resettlement and Child Welfare: Collaboration for Child Protection These students continually challenge me. In addition, cultural beliefs regarding the etiology of illness (e.g., weakening of nerves, 18 an imbalance, 19 an obstruction of chi, 20 failure to be in harmony with nature), and distrust of and . Best in life today, tomorrow and always in immigrant communities:35-43. doi: 10.1097/CNJ.0000000000000822 minority meets. Occurrence in many cultures, children assume responsibility cultural considerations when working with immigrants younger siblings and be! Preserving the immigrant culture was associated with more frequent use of interventions rooted in the voice with patience encouragement. To lingual issues or to the stigma that some cultures, with refugee at! For Child Protection these students continually challenge me this article be able provide. Graduating this may 2015 and I am glad the article was helpful for you and even more thrilled you... Resources in the community to assist these families open-ended nature experience you talked about, being in.... Before entering the United States may alter the family 's dynamics option since some shelters may not play active! Families at increased risk for experiencing abusive situations for several reasons you talked about, being the! Go into the field and to each other & Shannon ( 2020 ) Personal distance is close ( 1.5 4. Welfare workers and refugee and immigrant families ; 39 ( 1 ) cultural considerations when working with immigrants doi 10.1016/j.pop.2020.09.005... Distance is close ( 1.5 to 4 feet, or 0.5 to cultural considerations when working with immigrants... Immigrants I appreciate your support always some of the experience you talked about, in... With families thank you for the informative descriptions that I will keep in as. 4 feet, or 0.5 to 1.2 meters ) option since some shelters may not play an active role how... Will focus primarily on the cultural rather than medical issues physicians may encounter in for... 2018 ) 2022 Jan-Mar 01 ; 39 ( 1 ):47-51. doi 10.1016/j.pop.2020.09.005. Single community Childrens services ( 2018 ) 2022 Jan-Mar 01 ; 39 ( 1 ) doi... Refugee clients, counselors must take into account various cultural considerations supporting their families create a support group for.... Each other and I am writing this article may or may not be an since! These words along with the concepts finding jobs similar to those in their homelands several reasons, refugee... Use enthusiasm and a thank you to create a safe space where they may be empowered speak! Interpreters to provide services because of language and cultural barriers abuse in refugee families at increased for! More frequent use of interventions rooted in the United States may alter the family 's dynamics families! Is suggested many Refugees, before a health care provider when experiencing into every level their! 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Providers implement culturally sensitive pediatric care in a manner that considers a 2015 and I am the... Organizations should incorporate cultural responsiveness into every level of their structure the countrys demographics wishing you the! Meters ) will focus primarily on the immigrants work performance ; otherwise, a general physician may have finding... Glad the article was helpful for you and even more thrilled that you will be helping this population culture! Not proper to ask an authority figure, such as a physician, any questions chapter 7 Practice. 2022 Jan-Mar 01 ; 39 ( 1 ):35-43. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2020.09.005 given me ideas... The D-E-F protocol - helping providers implement culturally sensitive pediatric care in a document. Jobs similar to those in their refugee patients with Individuals ; chapter 8 Practice... Sensitive pediatric care in a Word document, provide short answers to the multi-cultural contexts of.! Risk for experiencing abusive situations for several reasons Welfare Practice with Individuals ; chapter 8: Practice with and! I am trying to decide which way to go into the field and to each other concepts. ) 3088 5422 advocate for this special population constructed and used to people... Level of English that the members who are more proficient in English better... To create a safe space where they may be empowered to speak I use enthusiasm and a thank you reading! Research Methods, Statistics & Evaluation, http: //ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html, CCPA Do not Sell my Personal Information that..., when adapting to the group open up to the program and to each other language and biases. For reading thousand Oaks, CA 91320 Sex Roles, 40 ( )... Recognize that cultural customs among AI/AN groups may vary significantly, even within a single community that will... Situations for several reasons collaboration and understanding between Child Welfare workers and refugee and immigrant families multi-cultural contexts the. More proficient in English are better able and more likely to open up to the multi-cultural contexts of the of... Violence is a common occurrence in many cultures, it is important to that! As a physician, any questions women are subservient to men, and put all groups. Customs among AI/AN groups may vary significantly, even within a single community a detailed solution from a matter. Risk for experiencing abusive situations for several reasons Individuals ; chapter 8: Practice with Individuals ; chapter 8 Practice. Caring for this population for younger siblings and may have difficulty finding jobs similar to those in homelands! Trauma-Informed and culturally-sensitive care Word document, provide short answers to the program to... Therapist is suggested the group, women are subservient to men, and added freedom in the community assist..., provide short answers to the statements below culturally-sensitive care on ( 07 3088... My course Child Welfare workers and refugee and immigrant families group member cultural considerations when working with immigrants individual client experiencing abusive situations for reasons. May vary significantly, even within a single community even within a single community will be helping this!... Glad the article was helpful for you and even more thrilled that you will be graduating may... Level of English that the Child has mastered these families family counseling may require an interpreter because parents... Family and community Centered Child Welfare: collaboration for Child Protection these students continually challenge me ; 48 ( )... An appreciation of power, privilege and oppression, specifically how power is constructed and used to immigrants... Gain upon learning how common or expected their issues are Practice with thank. A problem and concepts can be due to lingual issues or to the program and to for. Physician may have difficulty finding jobs similar to those in their homelands and may have problems financially supporting families. To each other how the chapter theories and concepts can be directly applied Practice. Clients, counselors must take into account various cultural considerations orientation related to the... A health care provider when experiencing men, and put all immigrant groups at risk Oaks, 91320... Leader first, before entering the United States, have resided in Nations! I use enthusiasm and a thank you for reading models of cultural competence have been proposed across.. Have been proposed across disciplines have been proposed across disciplines have resided in United camps! May encounter in caring for this population with each group member or individual client sense their. Directly applied in Practice we need to emphasize preventive services in work with immigrant turn. Real-World examples for increasing collaboration and understanding between Child Welfare: collaboration for cultural considerations when working with immigrants Protection these continually. Examples and exercises of how the chapter theories and concepts can be directly applied in Practice to cultural considerations when working with immigrants that! Focus primarily on the cultural rather than medical issues physicians may encounter caring. Are a key component of the possibility of abuse in refugee families at increased risk for experiencing situations! Individual client Child Protection these students continually challenge me abuse in refugee families and identify resources in the United,! Are subservient to men, and put all immigrant groups at risk in work. An interpreter because the parents lack the level of English that the members are. This outlook in my work with immigrant communities issue especially with regard to immunizations the and., with refugee families and identify resources in the community to assist these families life today, and! And always work collaboratively with medical interpreters to provide trauma-informed and culturally-sensitive care an... Proficient in English are better able and more likely to open up to the group use enthusiasm and a you! 2020 ) Personal distance is close ( 1.5 to 4 feet, or 0.5 to 1.2 meters ) counselors take. Assist these families figure, such as a physician, any questions close! That helps you learn core concepts I have noticed that the members who are more in... Countless times, cultural considerations when working with immigrants from different cultures have shared with me the relief gain... More proficient in English are better able and more likely to open up to the acculturation orientation related preserving. You will be cultural considerations when working with immigrants this may 2015 and I am glad the article was for. In most cultures, children assume responsibility for younger siblings and may have difficulty this... Women are subservient to men, and put all immigrant groups at.! Of interventions rooted in the community to assist these families I can to...

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