working with latino families
DESCRIPTION
J. Smithwick, PASOs, Presentation given at the 2012 South Carolina Home Visiting SummitTRANSCRIPT
Tips for successful home visits with Latino
families:
Julie Smithwick, LMSW
Executive Director, PASOs
Objectives1. Explain different social, political,
economic and cultural dynamics that may affect relationships between Latino individuals and home visiting professionals.
2. Identify helpful, practical and concrete strategies and resources for providing home visitation services and outreach to Latino families.
PASOs (“steps” in Spanish)Mission
PASOs helps the Latino community and service providers work together for strong and healthy families. We do this through education, support and grassroots leadership development.
US population by Race/Ethnicity (2010)
Total 308,745,538 100%
White 223,553,265 72.4%
Hispanic/Latino 50,477,594 16.3 %
African American 38,929,319 12.6 %
Source: US Census Bureau
Definition of Hispanic or Latino Origin Used in the 2010 Census
“Hispanic or Latino” refers to a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race
US Hispanic/Latino Population
More than half of the growth in the total population of the United States between 2000 and 2010 was due to the increase in the Hispanic population
2nd largest Hispanic population worldwide
1. Mexico: 108.7 million2. US: 50.5 million3. Spain: 40.4 million
Immigration statusNaturalized citizens: 11.3 million
(32%)Legal Permanent Residents: 10.4
million (29%)Unauthorized immigrants
(undocumented): 10.3 million (29%)
Refugees (immigrants who fled persecution): 2.5 million (7%)
Temporary Legal Residents: 1.2 million (3%)
Why Don’t They Just Come the Legal Way?
Our economy produces many, many times more jobs for people considered “low-skilled”.
Jobs that require little to no education, but a willingness to do very hard work.
Jobs that research has shown many Americans are unwilling to do
The employment-based system is dysfunctional, particularly for “low-skilled” workers: under the law, a maximum of 10,000 permanent visas are available per year for employer-sponsored workers other than those who are “highly skilled” or “holding advanced degrees.”
We can tell people to wait their turn in line, however…..
For a Mexican (or a Guatemalan, a Filipino, a Pole, or folks from many other countries) who does not have a college degree and has no close relatives who are U.S. citizens or green card-holders, there is almost certainly no line for them to wait in:
Without reform to the immigration system, they will not be able to migrate “the legal way” to the U.S., not if they wait ten years, not if they wait fifty years.
States with Largest Hispanic Population Growth, 2000-2010
State Growth 2000-
2010 (%)
South Carolina 148
Alabama 145
Tennessee 134
Kentucky 122
Arkansas 114
North Carolina 111
State Growth2000-
2010 (%)
Maryland 106
Mississippi 106
South Dakota 103
Delaware 96
Georgia 96
Virginia 92
Source: Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of U.S. Census Bureau Redistricting_Files-PL_94-171 for states PEW HISPANIC CENTER, March 2011
Counties with Largest Latino Population
County Latino Population
Greenville 36,495
Beaufort 19,567
Charleston 18,877
Richland 18,637
Horry 16,683
Spartanburg 16,658
Lexington 14,529
Berkeley 10,755
York 10,075
Aiken 7,824
Counties with Largest Latino Share of Total Population (%)
County % of Total Population
Jasper 15.1
Saluda 14.4
Beaufort 12.1
Greenville 8.1
Newberry 7.2
Counties with Largest Latino Population Growth (%)
County % of Total Population
Marlboro 290.2
Dorchester 252.8
Lexington 250.4
Lancaster 246.0
Horry 229.9
Barriers to Traditional Health Care Services and Programs
for Many ImmigrantsSB 20 lawEnglish language
proficiencyTransportationInsuranceFearNeed for information
on health care system
Acculturation levelsDiscrimination
SC Illegal Immigration Reform Act (H. 4400)
Signed by Governor Mark Sanford on June 4, 2008
◦E-verify◦Undocumented children cannot
attend state Colleges and Universities
SC Illegal Immigration Reform Bill (SB 20)
Signed by Governor Nikki Haley on June 27, 2011◦Local police officers required to check the
immigration status of anyone they suspect is here illegally
◦Immigrants required to carry federal alien registration documents
◦Prohibits to knowingly harbor or transport an undocumented person
What are some of the effects of these laws?
Lack of trust in health care providers and/or system
Women, children, families not getting health care
OutbreaksQuestions not getting answeredMissing thingsPeople feeling scared, undignified
What can we do?Reach out and show compassionMake everyone feel safe, welcomeHave an “LEP” (Limited English
Proficiency) plan for people who speak limited English
Do not ask questions about status, SSNs; never use word “illegal” or make assumptions
“Sometimes we need to take off our uniforms and put on our humanity.”- Columbia police officer
June 2012
President Obama announced that young undocumented Latinos will not be deported and that they may apply for work permits for two years as a temporal measure
Culture: Some common characteristics…
Most common language: Spanish
Religion: Roman CatholicsTraditional belief systems
Value on the family
Parentesco - Family ideology
Confianza (the importance of trust)
Personalismo (personal relationships)
•Respeto (respect) for elders, teachers, doctors
•Communication style (to the point?)
•Children do not leave home at 18
Pedro Gómez Martínez
María Torres Pérez
Maria Lucía Gómez Torres
Maria Lucía TorresMaria Lucía Gómez
Maria Lucía Gómez-TorresMaria Lucía Gómez Torres
Latino names
When people get married….Most DON’T change their last name
Pedro Gómez Martínez María Torres Pérez
1)María Torres Pérez2)María Torres de
Gómez3)María de Gómez4)María Gómez
Latino Cultural Values
Social gatheringsPersonal space (?)Desire to adapt to
U.S. culture and maintain their own culture at the same time
Desire to learn English
What are some cultural differences we might notice?
Relationship with “doctor” (which can mean all providers) much more formal
Non-verbal behaviors: ◦looking to advocate or family◦looking away from professional normal ◦nodding to “please”
Concept of time more flexibleUse of natural medicine
What can we do?
Need to develop confianza (trust, rapport)
Small talk about family, home country, children if appropriate
Acknowledge traditions and natural remedies—assess for safety
Ask how they want their name and their baby’s names to be—exactly.
Video:http://youtu.be/
89ny6vtP4gQ
How should we communicate?
English vs. Spanish (or native language)- preferable to use native language but let client decide.
If Spanish, use qualified interpreters—not children, family members, or students.
Relationship with family and/or advocate strong and built on trust…involve if possible and if feels safe (but not as interpreters)
Teaching/assessing knowledgeUse open-ended questionsInstead of “do you have any
questions?” Use: “Tell me what else you want to know.”
Instead of “Do you understand?” Ask:
“I want to make sure I told you things right. Can you tell me how you’re going to handle this when you get home?”
A thought to leave with…
They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
-Carl W. Buechner
Thank you for your interest!
Contact information:Julie Smithwick803-777-5466 or [email protected]