Description

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Meeting a crucial need for social workers and other practitioners, as well as students, this authoritative text covers the breadth of issues involved in working with immigrant and refugee children and families. Within an innovative conceptual framework, essential knowledge is presented to guide culturally competent practice with clients from over 14 immigrant groups whose numbers are growing in the United States today. Expert authors review the history of each group's migration to the U.S. and discuss key issues facing families, including cultural conflicts, trauma associated with refugee experiences and/or illegal status, and the effects of poverty and discrimination. Particular attention is given to ways that the practitioner can help families draw on culturally based resources for coping and resilience as they navigate the challenges of their new lives. Throughout, recommendations for strengths-based assessment and intervention are brought to life in detailed case examples.

About the Author

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Rowena Fong, EdD, MSW, is Professor of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin.

Praise For…

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"Rowena Fong has broken new ground with this milestone text. Beyond providing much-needed knowledge about contemporary immigrant and refugee populations, some of which are not yet widely covered in the literature, the volume offers an up-to-date framework for culturally competent practice. Current data on immigrants and refugees are skillfully blended with Fong's articulation of key concepts of cultural competence, particularly the notion of intersectionality. Appealing features include the book's coverage of the experiences of diverse newcomers to the United States and its focus on the needs of children and families. This book brings together a group of seasoned practitioners to help lead the way in educating today's mental health and human service providers."--Doman Lum, PhD, ThD, School of Social Work, California State University, Sacramento

"This superbly organized and written book is an excellent resource for any mental health or human service professional who may be in a role to assist immigrant and refugee children and families. Grounded in the social work literature and in an empowering, strengths-based perspective, the volume promotes greater knowledge and skills for working with immigrants from more than a dozen different culture groups. The authors provide rich descriptions of the challenges faced by diverse families, as well as the variety of strategies utilized for coping. Recommendations for assessing and intervening with families in a culturally appropriate manner will be extremely helpful for both practitioners and students. I strongly recommend this remarkable volume as a professional resource and a teaching tool."--Melba J. T. Vasquez, PhD, ABPP, private practice, Austin, Texas; Past President, American Psychological Association Divisions 35 (Society for the Psychology of Women) and 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology)

"This is truly an integrative practice text, addressing cultural competence issues from both micro and macro perspectives. The volume's strong theoretical framework incorporates ecological, strengths-based, and empowerment perspectives. Chapters on 13 specific ethnic groups, including some that are seldom covered in other texts, provide culturally informed practice principles illustrated with detailed case vignettes. I recommend this book as a text for undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in Social Work Practice, Multicultural Social Work, and Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE)."--Patrick Leung, PhD, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Houston; President, Asian American Social Work Educators Association; Board of Directors, Asian Representative, Council on Social Work Education


"This book encourages the acceptance of 'difference' and the need for practitioners to develop a deeper level of understanding of the cultural, psychological and emotional adjustments that have to be made by those living in a society where they are a minority....An invaluable resource for all social workers irrespective of the service user group with whom they are involved....This book adds to the growing body of works that support evidence based practice."
— Social Work Education

"Fong has provided an invaluable resource for all social workers irrespective of the service user group with whom they are involved....This book adds to the growing body of works that support evidence based practice."
— Social Work Education