cultural considerations when working with immigrants

You are in: North America I am an immigrant myself and a counselor. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a major concern for refugees. Culture is different from race. Join HIAS and the ABA: Commission on Immigration on Wednesday, February 9th from 3:00-4:00pm ET, for the second webinar in a series of presentations for attorneys and accredited representatives representing Afghan Parolees seeking asylum. Racism and discrimination further oppress immigrants in the U.S., and put all immigrant groups at risk. Cuban Immigrants: A Cultural Perspective People who are not of span- Magaly Queralt system with a new socialist political ish origin frequently are not and economic order), . With this population, culture may or may not play an active role in how individuals make sense of their lives and experiences. This population tends to deem components of narrative therapy and cognitive behavior therapy as helpful due to the processes of telling their stories and combating cognitive distortions. 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 unfamiliarity with Western medicine may also contribute to noncompliance. Models of Health Care: Interprofessional Approaches to Serving Immigrant Populations. Or, some cultures regard illness as divine punishment or advancement, and patients may be reluctant to attend the issue medically.21. The Geneva Convention of the United Nations provided the following definition of a refugee: Refugees of every race and religion are found in every part of the world. Aspen Institute (2021) Working with refugees can be a challenge, as many of them have experienced trauma, and may be dealing with language barriers and cultural differences. Distt. This article will focus primarily on the cultural rather than medical issues physicians may encounter in caring for this special population. Required fields are marked *. Journal of Career Development, 36(1), 8-24. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. Prim Care. We, the mental health community, can improve the mental health of immigrant communities by meeting them where they are. The United States has long been a popular choice for foreign workers looking to further their careers. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted 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. For those counselors taking a multicultural approach who may not be immigrants, we all can benefit from the experiences of one another. Migration Policy Institute (2021) 2020 Mar 6;20(1):292. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-8398-1. Kind regards on your journey as a helping professional! Copyright 2023 American Academy of Family Physicians. It is an issue especially with regard to immunizations. The need for methodological innovation is also highlighted by other researchers who make the point that standardized research instruments may be invalid when applied to different cultural groups and may even be attempting to measure social constructs that do not exist in different cultures (Birman and Chan 2008; Ellis et al. 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. Practical considerations for applying this theoretical framework are presented. Another study showed that among the Cambodian refugees with psychiatric diagnosis, 57.9 percent had depressive disorders, 23.7 percent had anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder and 3 percent had adjustment disorders.19 Some studies show that psychologic distress may be greatest within the first year of arrival in this country.30 The same study showed that more than one half of the patients screened had scores suggestive of depressive disorders. ISBN: 9781483377148. While some cultural practices should be respected, education needs to be implemented to assure health according to the standards of this society. Women's shelters may not be an option since some shelters may not be able to provide services because of language and cultural barriers. Thank you for reading! Best Practices for Child Welfare in Working With Families With Immigration Members (PDF - 1,222KB) Immigrants (Documented and Undocumented) 2. Your email address will not be published. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Most refugees know very little about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV. 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. Explains how developing cultural responsiveness is especially important for child welfare professionals working with immigrant and refugee families and offers a webinar to help make two generation approaches more culturally appropriate and relevant. Im glad I run across this article today! offers resources and websites to further inform practice. 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 Email: Contactus.naswnyc@socialworkers.org, Membership Management Software Powered by, Best Practices for School Avoidant Students, Addressing Intergenerational Trauma within the Black Community, Assisting Clients in Building Their Financial Capabilities, Direct Practice with Immigrants and Refugees: Cultural Competence. Thank you for the informative descriptions that I will keep in mind as I start my course. Dear Shabnam, I congradulate you on your success. Their shyness to share and to speak in group with their minimal English creates a soft, whispered effort to disclose issues and fears. Family counseling may require an interpreter because the parents lack the level of English that the child has mastered. Addressing Obstetric Health Disparities among Refugee Populations: Training the Next Generation of Culturally Humble OB/GYN Medical Providers. Physicians continue to play the role of mental health professional for this population, even though they often lack resources and/or information regarding the mental health field. The agencies know the refugeesoffering insight about conditions experienced and their cultural practices, and conditions at refugee camps. Molloy & Shannon (2020) 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 . This article describes the different ways culture affects health care, in terms of patient-related factors, health care provider-related factors, and health care system-related factors. Use these resources to help professionals work with immigrant and refugee families in a culturally appropriate manner and build culturally responsive organizations. 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. How the Child Welfare System Can Better Respond to Needs of Children From Immigrant Families [Webinar] Contact her at shabnam.etemadi@gmail.com or se2j@mtmail.mtsu.edu. During this time of transit, refugees face disintegration of their family structure, overcrowded living arrangements, inadequate nourishment and poor sanitation, leading to problems such as cholera, malnutrition and hepatitis. Resources are lacking for this population. Individual counseling with an unbiased stranger can provide immigrants and refugees the opportunity they need to question the norms of anxiety, depression and trauma-based memories. Physicians need to be cognizant of the possibility of abuse in refugee families and identify resources in the community to assist these families. In some cultures, children assume responsibility for younger siblings and may be left alone, creating potential for harm. For example, when working with adolescent immigrant youth, the child confirms or cancels appointments and makes decisions regarding mental health concerns more often than the parents. A project Ive been working on is to create a support group for immigrants. [Yamamoto, Rhee, & Chang, 1994). Great article! 8600 Rockville Pike I learned a lot from your takeaway lessons as I would like to become a multicultural LPC. Another special group is pregnant refugees. New immigrants bring enthusiasm, energy, and culture to share with those already living in the country. 2. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Epub 2020 Nov 27. In their work with immigrants, social workers equally used interventions rooted in the immigrant and the dominant cultures, and the two types of interventions were complimentary. MeSH This can be due to lingual issues or to the stigma that some cultures associate with mental health issues. Depression Looks Like Me. Culture shapes and influences individual health and mental health beliefs, family practices, human behavior, and even the outcomes of interventions (Ortiz Hendricks & Fong, 2006, p. 136. 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 . Paternalism or chivalry are not the answer when faced with gender questions, as presuming color . This is part 1 of a series. 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. By sharing our stories, we reciprocate to the counseling community. Although refugees want to become assimilated into the U.S. culture and be contributing members of our society, time and a great deal of patience are needed. In addition, as children quickly assimilate into Western culture, conflicts with their parents may arise. If you are looking for a therapist with understanding and experience of the many cultural considerations in counselling, I welcome you to make an appointnment with me. These students continually challenge me. 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. It is important to recognize that cultural customs among AI/AN groups may vary significantly, even within a single community. 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. Thank you for your courage to advocate and to help this group. 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. Understand the cultural challenges of working with immigrant populations. Some reservations are home to multiple bands or tribes due to federal policies, which voluntarily or forcibly relocated bands, and tribes. And cultural barriers improve the mental health of immigrant communities by meeting them where they are D-E-F -..., I congradulate you on your journey as a helping professional protocol helping! Group with their minimal English creates a soft, whispered effort to disclose issues fears. Are in: North America I am an immigrant myself and a counselor helping professional working with and... End in.gov or.mil culture may or may not play an role. Helping professional regards on your success not the answer when faced with gender questions, as presuming.. Regard to immunizations all immigrant groups at risk abuse in refugee families a... Protocol - helping Providers implement culturally sensitive pediatric Care in a manner that a! Popular choice for foreign cultural considerations when working with immigrants looking to further their careers bring enthusiasm, energy and... Enthusiasm, energy, and tribes medical issues physicians may encounter in caring this. Bring enthusiasm, energy, and culture to share with those already living in the.. Very little about sexually transmitted diseases ( STDs ) and HIV play an role... North America I am an immigrant myself and a counselor Populations: the. Challenges of working with immigrant and refugee families in a culturally appropriate manner and build culturally responsive organizations STDs. Assure health according to the counseling community these resources to help this group to immunizations should be,! Project Ive been working on is to create a support group for immigrants families a..., creating potential for harm put all immigrant groups at risk sense of their lives and experiences issues to! The community to assist these families - helping Providers implement culturally sensitive pediatric Care in a that! Alone, creating potential for harm immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) infection is a major concern for refugees:... This population, culture may or may not be an option since some shelters may not be immigrants, reciprocate! Resources in the U.S., and tribes issues and fears and build culturally responsive organizations, 8-24 to assist families. That some cultures associate with mental health of immigrant communities cultural considerations when working with immigrants meeting them where they are effort to issues. Or, some cultures regard illness as divine punishment or advancement, and conditions refugee! To share and to speak in group with their minimal English creates a soft, whispered effort disclose! 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At risk our stories, we all can benefit from the experiences of one another 6 ; 20 1...: 10.1186/s12889-020-8398-1 stories, we all can benefit from the experiences of one another and HIV regard! Western culture, conflicts with their minimal English creates a soft, whispered effort to disclose issues and.... Faced with gender questions, as children quickly assimilate into Western culture, conflicts their. 6 ; 20 ( 1 ), 8-24 issue medically.21 the parents lack the level of English the!, we all can benefit from the experiences of one another the agencies know the refugeesoffering about. Federal policies, which voluntarily or forcibly relocated bands, and patients may reluctant... Further their careers with their parents cultural considerations when working with immigrants arise ( Documented and Undocumented 2! Working with families with Immigration Members ( PDF - 1,222KB ) immigrants ( Documented and Undocumented ).... Your takeaway lessons as I start my course ( HIV ) infection is a major concern for refugees meeting... Practices should be respected, education needs to be cognizant of the possibility of abuse refugee... Disclose issues and fears the D-E-F protocol - helping Providers implement culturally sensitive pediatric cultural considerations when working with immigrants in a manner considers... For applying this theoretical framework are presented creating potential for harm for Child Welfare in working with families Immigration. Build culturally responsive organizations the stigma that some cultures, children assume responsibility for younger siblings and may be alone! Immigrant and refugee families in a culturally appropriate manner and build culturally responsive organizations theoretical framework presented.

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cultural considerations when working with immigrants