Latinos: The Importance Of Diversity In The Workplace

“Macro practice is the term used in the USA for an aspect of social work that focuses on building new organizations and influencing existing social institutions for the benefit of people who are excluded from, or neglected by, powerful interests in society” (Payne, 2014, p.217). Social worker in the macro practice level advocate for policy changes, by arguing for changes in community services. Social worker practicing within the macro level are servicing clients from many different cultures. A social worker must be culturally competent and willing to refrain from personal bias. The United States population is growing at an exceptional rate and is becoming one big melting point. It is projected that the Hispanic/Latino population is the fastest

Juana Mora in “Acculturation Is Bad for Our Health: Eat More Nopalitos” argues that the United States offers many job and educational opportunities for Latinos, but acculturation in America negatively impacts their health. Mora offers research and statistics, most of which I find compelling, to explain that these illnesses are primarily due to the immigrants’ new “daily habits and environment changes” (Mora 660). After arriving in America, immigrants often live in crime-ridden, low income neighborhoods, rely on fast food, abuse alcohol and tobacco products, and have fewer safe areas for exercise. Additionally, the stress caused “by learning a new language and culture” and “living in new and sometimes dangerous environments” causes illnesses such as post-traumatic

Underrepresented Minorities is a big topic that I felt covering in this class was necessary, especially on the leadership viewpoint. Being part of the Latino community, we have struggles of being misrepresented, especially lately in the social media concerning Donald Trump. His comments hit home with many of us and drew many Latinos to attention that we are underrepresented as a community within the minority category.

This article is about a Social Worker advocating for undocumented Latino families here in the United States. The article addresses the needs for undocumented Latino immigrants as they attempt to settle in America. These needs include mental health, physical health care, education, information and support services, and community effort. It talks about the economic crisis that has left the Latinos with higher unemployment rates. In certain parts of the country, it is mandatory to have documents proving their legal residency in the U.S before receiving health care services.

Furthermore, undocumented children will likely experience a sense of alienation from schools, friends, and society in general. A research concluded that children who have experienced parents detained and deported exhibited symptoms of short and long term mental health effects

Thanks Candance you gave great insight about what the Critical Race Theory is and the importance of having that theory in place. This theory has uncovered racism, and the power of the dominant race. I work at a shelter for homeless, abused, neglected and exploited children, and I am in the part of my internship, which allows me to type up case studies on the children that are referred to the shelter, I find it difficult to relate to the Hispanic children and their families without the Spanish version of the English translation, because we know that the English language can be a barrier to getting the help that they need. As you stated, much is lost in the Hispanics population if communication is broken in the engagement stage. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics (1999) outline score values and ethical standards for social workers, including the vital importance of multicultural competence, advocacy, empowerment, and social justice. We must have the ability to aid these individuals and groups in finding this voice and can only do so through our own proper education and strategic leadership. Latino subgroups share some

Latinos living situation in the U.S, place them at risk for living in poverty and limited

Undocumented college students have a much higher level of anxiety than the population at large, likely caused by a unique set of challenges they face as a result of their legal. Concern related to finances, fear of deportation and a sense of isolation weigh heavily on undocumented students, according to a study released today from the Institute for Immigration, Globalization and Education at the University of California Los Angeles. In the study of undocumented undergraduates, 28.5 percent of male and 36.7 percent of female participants reported a level of anxiety that was above the clinical cut off for generalized anxiety disorder, which means a moderate or severe level of anxiety. That’s compared to 4 percent and 9 percent from a sample of the general population. The Pew Research Center estimates that there are between 200,000 and 225,000 undocumented immigrants enrolled in college. But research on the

Immigrants face many struggles, such as working jobs that other people do not want for low wages, being unable to expand their knowledge because of the language barrier. Being in a new country which language you don’t understand is very difficult because it is needed for everything, whether it’s trying to communicate in a public place, work or school. The most horrifying thing an immigrant goes through is being aware that any day or any time they can be deported, knowing that you might not be able to see a loved one again is something no one would want to wish upon anyone. Most Latino immigrants have already started a family here in the US which benefits the child because it means he or she will have more opportunities, but this also means that the parent can possibly be deported and the child left behind because of the child’s birth place. There are many problems that affect immigrant which can lead to major behavioral problems such as sadness, aggression, social withdrawals and psychosocial stressors. Constant discrimination can lead to increased risk of anxiety and depression, therefore; it can make people find a way to cope, reduce or tolerate with the stress in a healthy or

The purpose of chapter 11 in Lum (2011) is to discuss cultural competence work with Latino Americans. The growth of the Latino population in the United States has been greatly increasing. As of 2008, 15.1% of the United States population is Latino. Some concerns that elderly Latinos may face are: “family roles, health, caregiving, end of life issues, protective factors, and effective interventions” (p. 309). Many of the Central American Latino grandparents have not completed high school, which has left them unemployed. Social workers who serve this group, should become more aware of the historical discrimination that this population has faced.

uri, and King-Kallimanis, 2010). Many Latinos enter the United states as immigrants and then bring their families. They then encounter many stressors with the transition of settling into a new country and having to assimilate into a new culture. This makes them vulnerable to many hardships, ranging from poverty, abuse, trauma, discrimination and more, that then turn into life stressors that when left unresolved can lead to mental health problems (Kanel, 2002). Latino adolescents also deal with the stressors and can come to manifest themselves through mental health problems ranging from anxiety to depression that left alone can lead to substance abuse and suicide. (Cervantes, Zarza, and Salinas, 2007). One landmark study found that Latino

As the daughter of an immigrant, I have witnessed the various barriers faced by immigrants, and this experience has motivated me toward my career objective. According to the Pew Research Center Hispanic Trends Project, there were about 11.3 million immigrants living illegally in the United States in 2013 (Passel et al., 2014). These immigrants come from all parts of the world for several different reasons. Whether to provide better resources for their family back home or to live a better life, these immigrants usually work in environments that can be harmful and dangerous to their health.

When it comes to identifying the Latino’s population by a type of skin color most would consider themselves as Caucasian while a few identify themselves as Black. Many others associate themselves with indigenous race while others are increasingly identifying themselves as “other”. Their origins range from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Guatemala. Notable differences among the Latino groups center on the aspects of language refinement, educational status, cultural values and attitudes toward mental health treatment (Brice, 2001).

I enjoyed reading your post and I agree with you that acculturation, discrimination, and language barriers are very common barriers seen with many Latinos/Hispanics. As a social worker it is important to recognize these challenges as they affect every entity of their lives, everything from education, to the position they hold, it effects not only their quality of life, but their children’s quality of life as well which when broken down is extremely powerful and can be paralyzing. “In both mental and physical health care facilities, Western medical concepts of health, diagnosis, and treatment prevail, while culturally diverse health beliefs, including spiritualism, herbal treatment, and acupuncture, are often devalued” (Congress & Lyons, 1992).

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.