The Importance Of Group Work In Latino Culture
Immigrants
America is a nation of immigrants. Unless your ancestors were the indigenous people to the land, you as well are a descendant of an immigrant. Throughout our history, the immigrant population has grown and developed over time. Consequently, a need has risen for social work practice within this group of people. There are many different kinds of immigrants worldwide. All of them have their own culture, ethnicity, beliefs, values, nationalities, and etc. that they bring with them. In fact, those are the very things that make group work with these individuals an interesting topic. Needless to say, many immigrants do not seek out services. This is due in part to certain cultures discouraging such things. It can also be attributed to the abuse many of them have encountered in their …show more content…
homelands.(site:Russia) In this paper, you will get a general idea of how group therapy works within different immigrant groups. The groups that will be explored are as follows: Latino males, Ethiopian males, Russian youth, East Indian family, and Chinese parents.
What Is an Immigrant?
An Immigrant is a person who is a citizen in one country, but comes to another country to live permanently.(site) The status of an immigrant can also be broken down into two categories. First, you have an illegal immigrant, which is a person who enters the host country without proper documentation or clearance. Then, there is a legal immigrant, who enters the host country with a visa and proper clearance. However, a person is not an immigrant if they are only visiting, or coming to the host country for a temporary stay. Many immigrants do not have support because they left family and friends in their homeland.(site) This can cause many different feelings for a person.
Latinos
In working with Latino males, there seemed to be a few strengths in using group work treatments.
Group therapy aligns with Latino cultural values in 3 ways.(site) One way it aligns is through what is called allocentrism in Latino culture. Allocentrism is putting others at the center of attention, not yourself. Second, there is the concept of familismo. Familismo is a strong commitment to your family. Finally, there is a value in the Latino culture called personalismo. This aspect of Latino culture goes with group work, because it values a personal relationship. All three of these values go hand and hand with group work practice. In my assessment of the journal articles, a few special issues came up. Therefore, it is better to have open versus closed meetings. This way those who work varying shifts may attend. Also, it would be better to allow Latinos to express themselves in Spanish instead of English if they so choose. Many times the Spanish language expresses things more powerfully than the English language. As social workers we have to be aware of complex issues when dealing with immigrants. Things such as racism and immigration status can affect group
dynamics.
America is a nation of immigrants. Unless your ancestors were the indigenous people to the land, you as well are a descendant of an immigrant. Throughout our history, the immigrant population has grown and developed over time. Consequently, a need has risen for social work practice within this group of people. There are many different kinds of immigrants worldwide. All of them have their own culture, ethnicity, beliefs, values, nationalities, and etc. that they bring with them. In fact, those are the very things that make group work with these individuals an interesting topic. Needless to say, many immigrants do not seek out services. This is due in part to certain cultures discouraging such things. It can also be attributed to the abuse many of them have encountered in their …show more content…
homelands.(site:Russia) In this paper, you will get a general idea of how group therapy works within different immigrant groups. The groups that will be explored are as follows: Latino males, Ethiopian males, Russian youth, East Indian family, and Chinese parents.
What Is an Immigrant?
An Immigrant is a person who is a citizen in one country, but comes to another country to live permanently.(site) The status of an immigrant can also be broken down into two categories. First, you have an illegal immigrant, which is a person who enters the host country without proper documentation or clearance. Then, there is a legal immigrant, who enters the host country with a visa and proper clearance. However, a person is not an immigrant if they are only visiting, or coming to the host country for a temporary stay. Many immigrants do not have support because they left family and friends in their homeland.(site) This can cause many different feelings for a person.
Latinos
In working with Latino males, there seemed to be a few strengths in using group work treatments.
Group therapy aligns with Latino cultural values in 3 ways.(site) One way it aligns is through what is called allocentrism in Latino culture. Allocentrism is putting others at the center of attention, not yourself. Second, there is the concept of familismo. Familismo is a strong commitment to your family. Finally, there is a value in the Latino culture called personalismo. This aspect of Latino culture goes with group work, because it values a personal relationship. All three of these values go hand and hand with group work practice. In my assessment of the journal articles, a few special issues came up. Therefore, it is better to have open versus closed meetings. This way those who work varying shifts may attend. Also, it would be better to allow Latinos to express themselves in Spanish instead of English if they so choose. Many times the Spanish language expresses things more powerfully than the English language. As social workers we have to be aware of complex issues when dealing with immigrants. Things such as racism and immigration status can affect group
dynamics.