Sí Se Puede Handouts and Resources Melinda Lewis, LMSW For the University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare, Social Work Day, April 16, 2010

What do Americans think about immigrants? 50% say that the U.S. is too open to immigrants % say that immigration has not caused major problems in their community % say that immigrants do not learn English quickly enough % report having lost a job to an immigrant (which significantly increases their negative perceptions of immigrants) % say immigrants mostly take jobs Americans don’t want Only 3% view immigration issues as the most serious concerns facing their community, but 42% consider it a ‘big’ problem 63% think that the majority of immigrants came here illegally % significantly overestimate the size of the foreign-born population in the U.S.

What do Americans think about immigration policy? 40-58% want a reduction in immigration % of registered voters support a path to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants (higher in some parts of the U.S. with large immigrant populations) % of voters overall said that they would deny access to public school, emergency rooms, driver licenses, food stamps, or in-state discounts on college tuition. 42% support amending the Constitution to deny citizenship to the children of undocumented immigrants press.org/reports/display.php3?PageID= % support a national ID card for verification of employee eligibility

Latino Youth Facts:  Native-born youth more susceptible to substance abuse and delinquency than foreign-born Latinos.  Highly-acculturated youth in immigrant families often serve as cultural ‘liaisons’ for parents, which can complicate parent/child roles and place strains on youth.  Latino youth are at a higher risk of depression than other ethnic groups (especially females).  Perceived discrimination, often higher for Latino youth than adults, is associated with poorer mental health and lower self-esteem.

Mental Health Facts:  More than ½ of Latinos discontinue therapy after one session.  Latino adults in need of mental health care are less likely than non-Latino whites to have access and more likely to receive poor-quality care.  Latino adults’ rates of psychiatric disorders are similar to those of non-Latino whites, but increase with years in the U.S. & acculturation (higher among women)

Health Care Facts:  Only 69% of Latino adults with health problems had at least one medical visit in the past year.  Even when insured, language and cultural barriers complicate access to care for Latinos.  Latinos less likely to have confidence in their doctor/health care experience.  Less acculturated Latinos are especially likely to incorporate home/folk remedies into their treatment.  Latino adults (particularly the foreign-born) least likely to have health insurance coverage of any ethnic group.  Health status, particularly related to life expectancy, is better for Latinos than would be expected given their circumstances, and varies by national origin.

Substance Abuse Facts:  Lifetime substance abuse rates for Latinos are lower than Anglos but higher than African Americans.  Substance abuse varies considerably by national origin, with Puerto Ricans and Dominicans demonstrating higher prevalence than Central Americans, in particular.  Latino youth have the highest substance abuse rates in the nation within their age group (under 13).  Latinas have considerably lower substance use rates than Latinos or other women.  Latinos have higher unmet needs for substance abuse service than Anglos or African Americans.

Aging Latinos Older adults are a much smaller proportion of the Latino population than among other ethnic groups (4.8% 65+, compared to almost 13% of the total population). Even older Latinos with long tenures in the U.S. may speak limited English, and their education levels are among the lowest in the country. Older Latinos may not be eligible for Social Security or Medicare, depending upon their work history in the U.S.

GLBT Latinos Latino gays and lesbians who do not conform to traditional gender role expectations may experience alienation and difficulty forging a positive self-identity. Highly religious Latino families may reject GLBT family members (particularly rejection by fathers and other male relatives). GLBT Latinos must be ‘tricultural’—existing within dominant U.S., Latino, and gay culture simultaneously. GLBT Latinos may feel alienated, as well, from gay and lesbian organizations and gatherings, due to language, cultural, and other barriers.

Latinos in the Correctional System Poverty, racial profiling, and residence in high- crime neighborhoods issues for Latinos, similarly to other racial/ethnic minorities Latinos’ challenges with the justice system exacerbated by language difficulties, negative experiences with law enforcement in their country of origin (where police corruption often rampant), and the tensions of immigration status Latino and African American tensions high in correctional facilities in parts of the U.S.

Child Welfare Relative to their proportion of the population, Latinos are overrepresented as residents of group homes and in the number of children adopted. In some states, Latinos are more than 1/3 of the children abused and neglected, while relatively few child welfare workers nationwide are Latino. As in all families, Latinos’ vulnerability to child abuse and neglect is exacerbated by economic strain, lack of necessary supports, and family crises.

Tips for Working with Interpreters Do: Provide seating/space for the interpreter that allows him/her to hear and be heard. Ensure that interpreters understand rules about confidentiality and will respect all agency and NASW confidentiality standards. Meet with the interpreter in advance, if at all possible, and provide copies of any documents that will need to be translated (if at all possible, these documents should be separately translated). Do NOT: Have a private conversation, or say anything in the session that you do not want interpreted to the client. Use jargon, slang, or other language that may not translate well and/or may be unfamiliar to the interpreter. Allow multiple people to speak at once, as the interpreter can only interpret for one individual at a time—this is especially critical in family or group sessions.

Tips for Working with Interpreters Do: Talk DIRECTLY to the client, NOT to the interpreter, including when answering questions. Your relationship is with the client, and the interpreter’s role is simply to remove the language barrier. Maintain culturally-appropriate eye contact with the client. Speak naturally, at your normal pace and tone. The interpreter will ask you to slow down if needed. Do NOT: Assume that the interpreter has any knowledge of the individual/family, the issues involved, or social work in general. Language interpreters know language and the art of interpreting—YOU are still the social worker expected to manage the session. Ask the interpreter for his/her assessment of the client, the issue, the culture, or the situation.

Tips for Working with Interpreters Do Allow extra time in your session for the interpreting—everything will need to be said twice, so these communications will take longer! Allow for breaks if necessary—most interpreters will be able to handle a one-hour session without interruption, but longer presentations or workshops will require breaks. Introduce interpreters and their role to clients. Do NOT: Interrupt the interpreter unless absolutely necessary—some concepts do take longer to explain in Spanish and, unless you have knowledge of both languages, you should not assume that the interpreter is interpreting incorrectly. However, if the client begins to dialogue with the interpreter, you need to reassert control of the communication. Hesitate to use your own Spanish skills for greetings and farewells and at other times as appropriate—even with an interpreter present, this can still help build rapport with clients and demonstrate your commitment to culturally-competent practice.