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 julie@scpasos.org