Strength Perspective: Problem-Centered Approach

Unfortunately much of the Latino history has been ignored or not written in conventional textbooks, but the reality is that Latinos experienced similar experiences to the ones of African Americans. According to Richard Delgado, “Recent research by reputable historians shows that Latinos, particularly Mexican Americans in the southwest, were lynched in large numbers during roughly the same period when lynching of blacks ran rampart” (583). Moreover, Latinos have also been heavily discriminated within the educational system through segregation. Latinos along with African American were not allowed to attend school with white children and often had schools assigned to them. The purpose of segregating was to, “isolate Mexican American children and to retard their educational process” (Perea 601). Other methods of academically repressing Latinos included retaining them “in first grade for two or three years, which automatically placed them behind their Anglo peers” (Perea 602). Some of the rationale behind segregating children was that stereotypes were prevalent amid educators. Juan F. Perea sites in his article that show that, “teachers viewed their . . . students as lazy and favored Anglo students in . . . leadership roles . . . [that] were necessary to teach Anglos how to control and lead Mexicans” (Perea 602). The previous clearly demonstrates that the educational system sought hinder Latinos in the educational system for the purpose of maintaining a working

“The strengths perspective embraces the principle that all clients possess them. Strengths can be the client’s willingness to accept help, the client’s positive attitude, their ability to overcome hardships in the past…” (Arnold, 2008, p. 1) In the strengths perspective, the strengths of a person to resist the stressor and problem areas in their lives are what the focus is on. (Hutchinson, 2016, p. 111) What this means is that it is assumed that regardless of who the person is or what they have done, they have strengths that can help them

Strength is that part of your intellect or nervous system that is more effective and productive than other parts. Throughout your experience of life, your actions or reactions drive different thoughts, behavior and emotion in your brain. The requests that are processed more efficiently and rapidly are known as your strengths. Nowadays, strengths-based approaches to work and life are gaining a lot of popularity and often they are used to improve leadership and create more productive and efficient work teams.

When one thinks about Hispanics, all too often the image of a field full of migrant workers picking fruit or vegetables in the hot sun comes to mind. This has become the stereotypical picture of a people whose determination and character are as strong or stronger than that of the Polish, Jewish, Greek, or Italian who arrived in the United States in the early 1900's. Then, the center of the new beginning for each immigrant family was an education. An education was the "ladder by which the children of immigrants climbed out of poverty into the mainstream." (Calderon & Slavin, 2001, p. iv) That ideal has not changed, as the Hispanic population has grown in the United States to large numbers very quickly and with little fanfare. Now, the

Latino’s haven’t always had it easy in America, some were luckier than others. Hector Garcia growing up was one of the lucky ones. His parents were educators but their credentials were denied. They resorted to teaching their kids inside the home. The Garcia kids were pushed by their parents to become doctors, so they could have a better future. Hector Garcia graduated from the University of Texas and did his residency in Omaha, Nebraska. Garcia volunteered as a infantry officer during world war two, but was denied to practice medicine while in the army. He was eventually able to serve as a medical corps officer before he was dismissed

Rather than focusing on what the child can’t do, focus on what he can do. Recognising that the child has the initiative to take on experiences that empowers his development. Implementing inclusive, strengths based activities exercises the way children can recognise their competencies, this also involves the relationships you entitle with parents and fellow educators to aid the child's development. Partnerships offer valuable insights in regards to finding information about the child, it is important that when working together that opinion, perspectives and decisions are equally valued and respected.

But just because the numbers seem to be getting better for Latinos it does not stop the fact that there are disparities in educational quality between communities of color. Unfortunately, the education system in America doesn’t provide a condition in which all students have the same benefits and opportunities because of education inequality. The United States education system; for example, is unequal and unfair because students who live in wealthy communities like suburbs have huge advantages over students who live in poorer neighborhoods. Wealthy communities tend to have modern facilities, up to date textbooks, more extracurricular activities, better libraries, and fewer students in a classroom. Many of the public school across America especially schools that myself has attended in Chicago are falling apart while wealthy communities are building Football stadiums that their construction price is in the millions. In most latino neighborhoods educational inequalities begin in early childhood education and persist throughout the K-12 system (Rodriguez, 2017). This stops many child’s abilities to succeed in postsecondary programs. So even though more Latinos are graduating from high school it doesn’t stop the fact that many are underprepared for college and careers after high school. This means that if they attend a postsecondary institution and it does not serve them well, the wealth return on their investment in education may not be as high or may not materialize at all (Rodriguez, 2017). Tuitions also keep rising every year which means the aid provided to Latinos seems to cover less of the tuition every year. As a result, more Latino students have been forced to take out student loans or having to pay more out of pocket. Many Latino students also feel they have no choice but to stay

According to the U.S. Census, the Latino population in the United States has increased by 592% since the 1970s. Currently, Latinos make up 16% of the population in the United States and it is expected to increase to 31% by 2060 (Census, 2012). As the demographic landscape of the country changes, the economic prosperity of the nation relies on the education of a more diverse population. To remain competitive on a global scale, the U.S. must pay special attention to the education of the largest growing group of the population: Latinos.

The first step is to separate what one believes from that one knows, and to separate what is from what must be. (Hinchey, 5) By doing this, one is able to begin to deconstruct the assumptions about the system in which we operate, which allows the individual to see the system as custom instead of irrefutable law. The next step in critical theory is

Problem solving approach is a traditional and foundational aspect of general Social Work practice. It is based on identifying a problem or set of problems facing a client and formulating a framework of possible options with the hope of fixing the problem or improving the situation. Although, the worker may guide the client and inform them of the possibilities and options available, the client is still solely responsible for their own choices and actions. The formal application of this principle is the definition, assessment, setting of goals, intervention and resolution.

Strength perspective in social policy focuses on the client’s abilities and resources as opposed to focusing on the client’s individual problems. Does it seem valuable and important to you to use a strengths perspective in developing and analyzing social policy? Why or why not? The importance of utilizing this policy is it identifies the client’s strengths, resources, and their environment. Its primary focus is what’s right with people.

Ray and Joe communicate with each other as demonstrated by Ray's behavior of looking at Joe at the examination.

In the essay Traditional and Critical Theory, Adorno Horkheimer introduced the term critical theory in contrast to the traditional theory. ‘Critical theory’ or critical theory of society is defined as a social theory which aims to both critique and changes the society by providing a normative and descriptive basis for the ' emancipation' of the society. In fact, an emancipation of the oppressed (similar to the Marxian emancipation of the proletariat from the shackles of bourgeois) is the core concept of the critical theory. Horkheimer expands the theory as a human emancipation “to liberate human beings from the circumstances that enslave them”. For this reason, he further elaborates, unlike the traditional theory which only explains the

Critical theorists share 4 assumptions: firstly they dispute realism in their belief that human nature is effected majorly by social changes, as opposed to the belief that states dominate and that technological progress has no effect on the autonomy of states. This is supported by liberalist thinking in the development of international institutions, the process of globalisation has dramatically changed the way states behave, something that realists choose to ignore. They believe that this is due to struggles throughout history, which supports the idea of hegemony in that states that have been successful in both economic terms as well as within warfare are more able to shape social change and progress. Critical theory also emphasises the importance of emancipation, which links back to the Marxist thought on which it is based, as it highlights the importance of citizens, and critiques both liberalist and realist thought in its belief that

Critical theory states that the above theory is structurally flawed in that all theory that relates to the social cannot be value free. Anything that impacts people has value and theories that support and propagate the current system are valued by the system rather than the community. Critical theory is based in suspicion of old ideas and seeks to go beyond defining the social. It focuses on finding issues and finding ways to fix those issues. This mentality seeks to challenge power structures and creating a just social world.