Cultural Competence Work With Latino Americans

The following discussion and statements are done so such that they incorporate the ideas and struggles of the Latino races regarding certain subjects down upon chapter 3 “Latinos in the united states” and chapter 4 “borders, immigration and citizenship”. This discussion is about the oppression that people Latinos and Native Americans and other ethnic groups have gone through. Some points in the discussion are oppression towards Mexican American and Native Americans, how they were treated and the impact they had.

Latinos, collectively the nation's largest minority group, vary substantially in terms of socioeconomic and legal status, their country of origin and the extent of ongoing contact with that country, their region of residence within the United States, their generation status and levels of acculturation, and psychosocial factors (Elder, Ayala, Parra-Medina, & Talavera, 2009). Due to these various issues navigating the health care system can prove difficult especially when it comes to the end of life care, it is prevalent in the Mexican culture for the elderly to be taken care of by their younger family members such as their children. However, if they have a major illness or the family simply don’t have the ability to take care of them anymore

Some of the author’s major points are the lack of understanding of what cultural competence really means which is bringing confusion about ways it can be utilized in the social work field. The confusion of the utilization of cultural competence is leading to the lack of consensus concerning the effective training that providers should obtain and the population being served with the cultural competence skills lack clear description. According to the author, the most popular cultural competence intervention in the healthcare system is the cultural competency training which is for health care providers and the two approaches that have been utilized in creating the intervention are; the programs aimed at improving knowledge which is group specific,

The United States is home to more than 50 million Latino Americans, which accounts for

Family life is important to Latino family interests are valued over individual well-being (Latinos, 2014). The structure of the Latino family tends to be patriarchal with great power and responsibility vested in the male head of household. The family is viewed as the focal point of mutual aid in the Latino community, based on the cultural norm of personalismo and the non-familial organizations are not generally trusted. Latinos depend more on the family for services, emotional support and advice than they do professionals. In the Latino culture, la familia (the family) and interdependence among its members are highly valued (Appleby, G.A., Colon, E., & Hamilton, J., 2011).

As social worker’s we must be culturally competent to help client’s from various cultures. This is critical to a successful social work practice. As Latinos become a larger proportion of the U.S. population, there is a greater need for social work education to provide culturally sensitive training to social work students (Furman, Bender, Lewis, & Shears, 2006; Iglehart & Becerra, 1995). Latinos have become the largest minority population in the United States “Latino” defines a cultural or ethnic group, not a racial category. While the U.S. Census defines this population as “Hispanic,” Garrison, Roy, and Azar (1999) argue for the term “Latino,” because it conveys the population’s diversity.() While the we should avoid the thought that all Latino’s are the same or have the same experience, they do share

Having a strong support system plays a role in the survival and success of this community. There is a lack of formal support for the Hispanic community, that is why they rely heavily on their informal support system. The formal support that is available is not culturally relevant to the Hispanic community. Barrio (2000) states, “When the objective is to design and provide services relevant to a particular culture, this process also appraises the fit between the service system and the unique ethnocultural qualities, needs, and expectations of the client system to be served” (p. 880). There is no such thing as a “one size fits all” formal support systems. We need to tailor to the specific community, in this case the Hispanic community, to meet their needs and expectations. Delgado and Humm-Delgado state that we as Human services workers must not diminish the importance of natural support systems, but we cannot use that as an excuse to say that they can support each other and do not need our support (p. 88). We must be client-centered and focus on what that particular individual needs, despite how strong their natural support is. Natural support systems are limited, they cannot provide essential medical assistance, stable income, and mental health services. We must utilize their support system to help us as Human services workers to better serve

Not only would the Mexican American client feel like they are understood and cared about, but the social worker would be more comfortable and confident in helping the client. Trevino also mentions that there are clearly defined gender roles among Mexican Americans. Fathers assume key responsibility over the family, while mothers are nurturing and selfless in caring for their husbands and children (Trevino, 1991). The males and females of this Mexican American culture are not allowed to challenge or change their assigned roles and responsibilities. Some people would be outraged by these roles and think that it is sexist, however, an efficient social worker has to be nonjudgmental and realize that every culture is different and has their own values. Another thing mentioned is that family and friends play an important role in the Mexican American life. Extended relatives often live in the same household with their Mexican American family. “Cooperation, loyalty, and respect are emphasized within the family unit” (Trevino, 1991). In assessment it is important that the social worker cooperates with the family and is respectable towards them even if the social worker does not get a good vibe from them. This will make the client and his/her parents gain tremendous trust for his/her social worker. In addition, participation of the family can also influence maintenance of the family unit which is essential in Mexican American culture. “In a study on Mexican

Recent data have cited that Asian Americans are the fastest-growing ethnic community in the United States. As a result, the United States will experience developing and new societal changes. This introduces the urgency for cultural competence. Cultural competence is the ability to communicate and work with multicultural and diverse people. Therefore, this capability will help accommodate for the expanding society. By being able to learn and discuss topics concerning racial relations, this can lead to stronger connections being formed with communities outside of our own.

Also, their low levels of education are another barrier they face, and they feel as if they won’t understand the procedures they have to take to get services. (Bauer et al. 2000; Bell and Naugle 2005; Fugate et al. 2005; Lewis et al. 2005; Strube 1988 as cited in Mookerjee, Fernandez, & Chin, 2015). Some cultural issues that also have to do with the barriers they face is family dignity. (Mookerjee, Fernandez, & Chin, 2015). Latinos have dignity and do not like asking for help. They believe they can fix their own situations with no professional help needed. But it also relates to fears they face as well. One of them is the fear of being deported, the language barrier, and worsening the situation. (Klevens 2007 as cited in Mookerjee, Fernandez, & Chin, 2015). Fear of deportation is always a concern when Latinos have to deal with professional people or help. Although, some Latinos are willing to seek help the language difference prevents them from actually doing it, because they may think it’s a waste of time if they will not be able to understand, and also if there isn’t much availability for bilingual providers as well. (Callejas et

As mentioned, Spanish-language music allows the development of self-identity through culture. Moreno adds an interview she had with Jorge Andrés Herrera, an adjunct professor at California State University, Fullerton, who teaches Chicano Studies courses and is a Ph.D. candidate at UCLA, whom is studying the role music plays in shaping Latino identity with an emphasis on the U.S./México border. "When a Latino crosses the border, they automatically start to assimilate culturally and a big part of that assimilation comes in the form of musical tastes and musical preferences which also transform and assimilate to the dominant culture” (Moreno 5). Music helps shape Latino identity by empowering and helping those who have assimilated in the mainstream

First, one must consider the probing of behaviors such as stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, and racism as underlying forces of culture contact and the danger it brings (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2012). Second, the seriousness of cultural change is to be acknowledge in the lives of Hispanics individuals and families as it affects its function which encompasses beliefs, values, behaviors and more (Archuleta, 2012). Finally, a description of Charo’s culture mirrors a Hispanic heterosexual female, a survivor of domestic violence whose roots stems from Mexico (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014). She speaks her native language only, does not have a visa to work,

What is Cultural Competence and why is it important to Health and Wellbeing Cultural competences are behaviours, values, attitudes and policies that a body of professionals should encompass in order to effectively work with other cultures (Bureau of Primary Health Care). Culture includes shared values, beliefs, religion, norms and customs. Competence is the ability to function as an individual and part of a team (Office of Minority Health). According to Mayhew cultural competence also involves how someone’s culture can influences the way they perceive health, illness and recovery (Mayhew 2016). The Georgetown University emphasized that cultural competence is being able to provide health services that meet social, cultural and language needs

Another outstanding point that you made in reference to applying cultural competence in your personal life is phenomenal. I believe getting to know who we are will help us pinpoint the areas that are not the strongest when providing cultural care to patients. Allowing us to work on our weaknesses and become proficient in the areas we lack. In order for us to become an expert in cultural competency and cultural care we need to apply it in every aspect of our lives.

Providing culturally competence are available constructs in augmentation of patient centered healthcare delivery that has been heavily emphasized in recent years. In particular to this writer’s professional career there have been ongoing improvements seen on a corporate and care level made to the implementation in providing culturally competent care. In this paper, we explore culturally competent and patient centered care with the Mexican female population here in the northeast. In doing so, the demonstration of timely theoretical frameworks of cultural competence must be afforded to our patients; to improve interactions in an interpersonal level. This group was recognized primarily due to identifying the integral role the female plays