Strengths And Challenges Of New Immigrant Families

Immigration to America is an issue that often sparks intense emotional reactions_from passion and compassion to anger and even rage. Often missing from the dialogue, however, is discussion of the strengths of immigrant newcomers_the abilities and positive characteristics they bring as individuals and families to our country, and how these contribute to the agency, growth, and vitality of America. This book was intended to move the discussion of immigration, generally speaking, and of immigrant families specifically, to include how and in what ways new immigrants to America (those arriving within the past thirty years) have changed the social and geocultural landscape of this country in positive, beneficial, and valuable ways. The book is comprised of nineteen chapters written by scholars with expertise on immigrant families representing every corner of the globe_from Africa and India to Europe and Central America. In each chapter, the unique factors, processes, and worldviews which help shape and mold the immigrant experience are articulated, as are the strengths immigrant newcomers bring to America. In addition, beyond explicating the strengths of immigrant families, each of the nineteen contributing chapters focuses on the implications of these strengths for families, communities, and the culture. Thus, the book provides a springboard from which to answer the application and 'what now' questions for those who work with immigrant families in a variety of capacities_from academicians and researchers to educators and human-service providers.

This book is comprised of nineteen chapters written by scholars with expertise on immigrant families representing every corner of the globe_from Africa and India to Europe and Central America. It provides a springboard from which to answer the application and 'what now' questions for those who work with immigrant families in a variety of capacities_from academicians and researchers to educators and human-service providers.

Resilience is a topic that is currently receiving increased attention. In general, resilience refers to the capacity of those who, even under the most stressful circumstances, are able to cope, to rebound, and to go on and thrive. Resilient families are able to regain their balance following crises that arise as a function of either nature or nurture, and to continue to encourage and support their members as they deal with the necessary requirements for accommodation, adaptation and, ultimately, healthy survival. Handbook of Family Resilience provides a broad body of knowledge regarding the traits and patterns found to characterize resilient individuals and well-functioning families, including those with diverse structures, various ethnic backgrounds and a variety of non-traditional forms. This Handbook brings together a variety of perspectives aimed at understanding and helping to facilitate resilience in families relative to a full range of challenges.

Working with Vulnerable Families embodies the universal edict - that for societies to flourish we must enhance the opportunities for our children to reach their physical, intellectual, emotional and social potential. For families facing issues of marginalisation, poverty, domestic violence, drug and alcohol dependence or mental illness, such ideals can seem particularly daunting. In a thoroughly candid and engaging style, this groundbreaking text transcends narrow professional boundaries to demonstrate how those working in diverse health, education and social welfare settings can work collaboratively with one another and with parents to protect, nurture and support young children from birth to 8 years. The book draws together a broad range of research-based theory, practice wisdom and successful real-world exemplars to explicate the core values, knowledge and skills required when working with families with multiple and complex needs.

Child and Family Practice: A Relational Perspective, Second Edition presents important guidelines and principles for working with children, their families, and their service-providing organizations. It is grounded in the traditional social work theories of relationship with emphasis on three core concepts: relational connection, evidence-guided knowledge, and reflexivity. With this text students can connect theory to evidence-based practice and use realistic case studies for classroom role-play and engaging discussion. Cohen Konrad's goal is to help students connect science, theory, and the human qualities necessary to effect positive change and inspire hope in the lives of children and families.

Family Poverty in Diverse Contexts addresses the context of poverty in the United States and focuses on poverty issues that family members must confront as they move through the life course. This edited collection provides a unique perspective that draws together macro and micro research about how poverty affects families throughout their lives, increasing risks and reducing opportunities at every stage. Individual chapters emphasize the context of poverty in the United States, then go on to examine specific life cycle stages and what happens when poverty intersects with family concerns. Contributing authors are respected experts in their fields and represent a broad range of disciplines and perspectives including child development, community health, education, family studies, gerontology, disability, public policy, social work and sociology. Family Poverty in Diverse Contexts includes a range of pedagogical features to enhance learning such as exercises and discussions relating to each chapter, which will encourage readers to think critically and apply the knowledge to their own lives. It will interest students, academics and researchers of sociology, family studies, social work and health as well as other related disciplines.

Family Life Education with Diverse Populations is a T2 for courses in Family Life Education. Family Studies and Social Work students often go through the additional certification of becoming Family Life Educators (FLEs). As a family life educator, the student will help educate families in and outside the traditional classroom environment on how to strengthen relationships in the home and foster positive individual, couple and family development. Such education comprises many topics, including marriage education, parenting skills, anger management, to strategies in adjusting to divorce. This book takes the content delivered in courses on FLE a step further by examining and presenting key strategies for working with diverse populations. Diverse is defined broadly in terms of race and ethnicity, but also by setting, such as military families, rural families, families with loved ones in prison, and more. The book is unique in defining the group and presenting their strengths, and then prescribing treatments and strategies for working with each group. In addition, the book takes an evidence based practice approach and demonstrates proven strategies in working with the populations listed above. Sharon M. Ballard, Ph.D., CFLE, CFCS: is an Associate Professor in the Department of Child Development and Family Relations at East Carolina University. Alan C. Taylor, Ph.D. CFLE: is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Child Development and Family Relations at East Carolina University.

With a synthesis of research on issues key to understanding family interaction, as well as an analysis of many theoretical and methodological choices made by researchers studying family communication, the Handbook serves to advance the field by reframing old questions and stimulating new ones. The contents are comprised of chapters covering: theoretical and methodological issues influencing current conceptions of family; research and theory centering around the family life course communication occurring in a variety of family forms individual family members and their relationships dynamic communication processes taking place in families family communication embedded in social, cultural, and physical contexts. Key changes to the second edition include: updates throughout, providing a thorough and up-to-date overview of research and theory new topics reflecting the growth of the discipline, including chapters on "singles" as family members, emerging adults, and physiology and physical health. Highlighting the work of scholars across disciplines--communication, social psychology, clinical psychology, sociology, family studies, and others--this volume captures the breadth and depth of research on family communication and family relationships. The well-known contributors approach family interaction from a variety of theoretical perspectives and focus on topics ranging from the influence of structural characteristics on family relationships to the importance of specific communication processes.