Social work practice with transnational Latino populations

International Social Work http://isw.sagepub.com Social work practice with transnational Latino populations Rich Furman and Nalini Junko Negi International Social Work 2007; 50; 107 DOI: 10.1177/0020872807072500 The online version of this article can be found at: http://isw.sagepub.com Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com On behalf of: International Association of Schools of Social Work International Council of Social Welfare International Federation of Social Workers Additional services and information for International Social Work can be found at: Email Alerts: http://isw.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts Subscriptions: http://isw.sagepub.com/subscriptions Reprints: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.nav Permissions: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav Downloaded from http://isw.sagepub.com at UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA on October 23, 2007 © 2007 IASSW, ICSW, IFSW. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution. International Social Work 50(1): 107–112 Sage Publications: London, Thousand Oaks, CA and New Delhi DOI: 10.1177/0020872807072500 i s w * BRIEF NOTE Social work practice with transnational Latino populations * Rich Furman and Nalini Junko Negi While the nature of social work practice in the 20th century may often be unpredictable, one dynamic that is nearly indisputable is the increasingly global scope of social problems (Link et al., 1999; Stoesz et al., 1999). The integration of world economic structures (Munch, 2004), the policies of neo-liberalism (Eichengreen, 2004; Murillo, 2001; Walton, 2004), the advance of increasingly sophisticated hypertechnology, as well as complex and extensive patterns of international migration (Kearney and Beserra, 2004; Padilla, 1997; Pena-Lopez, 2004; Takaki, 1993), are but a few of the factors that contribute to the creation of social needs that are global in nature. Regardless of their etiology, few social problems can now be conceptualized as merely national, or even regional, in nature. The adage think globally and act locally, has taken on an expanded meaning in the new millennium. In this global context, the emergence of a population of migrants who live their lives across transnational borders (hence the term, transnational migrants) is particularly pertinent to social work research and practice. Transnational migrants are a socially and politically vulnerable population (Sassen, 2002) that is exposed to high antecedents to distress (Escobar-Latapi, 1999; Lopez and Salgado de Snyder, 2001; Poole, 1996; Rousse, 1989; Salgado de Downloaded from http://isw.sagepub.com at UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA on October 23, 2007 © 2007 IASSW, ICSW, IFSW. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution. 108 International Social Work volume 50(1) Snyder, 1993). In the USA, the social welfare of Latino transnational migrants is especially relevant due to the geographic proximity of borders as well as the significant influx of Latino migration. A social work understanding of the specialized needs of this vulnerable population is then especially relevant in order to provide effective services. While there is a body of theoretical literature indicating that transnational migrants are a vulnerable population, there is a paucity of research that specifically examines the social service needs of this population. The purpose of this Brief Note is to explore essential issues that social workers must contend with when working with transnational Latino populations. This aim will be accomplished in the following ways. First, the phenomenon of transnational migration will be explicated. Second, the social welfare conditions of Latino transnational migrants will be discussed. Third, the importance of social work practice and research development with this population will be presented. Transnational migration Transnational migration is an altered condition of migration that is distinguished from traditional conceptions of migration. According to Pries (2004), transmigrants are continuously engaged in lives across countries and cultures for economic reasons, while immigrants and traditional migrants discontinue such consistent movement across boundaries with the passing of time. This phenomenon of transmigration is not new, as it has precedents that extend to the trading diasporas of the Middle Ages (Foner, 1997), but it is unique today due to rapid increases in communication technologies which have greatly facilitated transnational lifestyles that allow such migrants to simultaneously maintain lives in more than one nation state (Portes, 1997). Transnational migrants have family and economic ties that transcend nation states and are often integrated into the political fabric of both counties (Kastoryano, 2000). They are tied into the economic and labor sector of both sending and receiving countries in complex and powerful ways (Poole and Salgado de Snyder, 2002). For example, Mexican laborers disproportionately fulfill various agricultural and industrial labor market gaps in the US labor market (Jackson et al., 2004), while also simultaneously contributing to the Mexican economy by sending remittances. This process of transnationalization has then allowed many of these migrants to develop Downloaded from http://isw.sagepub.com at UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA on October 23, 2007 © 2007 IASSW, ICSW, IFSW. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution. Furman and Negi: Transnational Latino populations 109 transnational identities and relationships as well as engage in associated activities. The impact of Latino transnational migrant health and welfare therefore has consequences across and beyond nation-state boundaries. The social welfare conditions of Latino transnational migrants in the USA The USA has been the primary receiving location for Latinos. Specifically, migration from Mexico to the USA has been cited as one of the largest mass movements of people in the world (EscobarLatapi, 1999). The Mexico–USA border is thus a transnational space with a particularly high-risk social welfare impact upon the often poor and undocumented transnational migrants, who are rendered socially and politically vulnerable (Sassen, 2002). Latino transnational migrants are an at-risk population that is exposed to high antecedents to distress. Many are employed in the industrial sector which requires intense physical labor and long hours. These difficult work conditions may affect the well-being of this population as they may have consequences for health-related problems. Furthermore, long hours away from support networks may also lead to a myriad of psychosocial problems such as substance abuse, domestic violence, divorce or crime (Lopez and Salgado de Snyder, 2001; Poole and Salgado de Snyder, 2002). An understanding of the social welfare conditions of this population is especially relevant as the impact of these social problems can be felt in both the receiving and sending countries. Social work practice with transnational Latino migrants Global realities have led to the ‘deterritorialization’ of nation states (Sassen, 2002) and are changing the lives of migrants and the communities that receive them. Consequently, numerous challenges and opportunities present themselves to social workers who may begin to work with a burgeoning number of transnational clients. This includes social workers engaging with Latino individuals and families in the USA. In fact, these globalized times have led various social work scholars, and indeed the Council for Social Work Education itself, to advocate for globalizing social work education (Van Wormer, 1997; see also http://www.cswe.org/). Yet while social work literature is full of references to globalization, the profession has yet to develop a focused understanding of the transnational Downloaded from http://isw.sagepub.com at UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA on October 23, 2007 © 2007 IASSW, ICSW, IFSW. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution. 110 International Social Work volume 50(1) nature of migration and social problems. In the interim, the often bleak social welfare conditions experienced by transnational migrants (Escobar-Latapi, 1999; Lopez and Salgado de Snyder, 2001; Poole, 1996; Rousse, 1989; Salgado de Snyder, 1993) and the corresponding scope of their problems call out for the development of an understanding of these populations that will inform culturally competent social work practice. Social work has an increasing responsibility to meet the needs of transnational populations as it is one of very few professions whose identity is based on restoring and enabling social justice for vulnerable populations (IFSW, 2006). In the US context, perhaps the greatest service need of many Latino transnational migrants is the need for social and political legitimacy. The transnational activities (across nation-state boundaries) of undocumented Latino migrants situate them at a higher psychosocial as well as political risk than traditional migrants whose cross-border activities are less frequent. For example, migrants from Mexico experience negative interactions and discrimination from both US and Mexican border officials (Latapi, 1999). In the USA many state governments are restricting already limited services and rights for undocumented immigrants. This restriction of basic social, health and educational services adds to the marginalization of this population and its future generations. The exclusion or restriction of social services with this population can be detrimental to US health as well, since the offspring of these migrants are often born in the USA and are American citizens. The denial of preventative services places this population at risk of more complex biopsychosocial maladies in the future. Social workers must consider the social and political realities of this population when developing advocacy programs or promulgating awareness. Another important service need is to establish multi-service social welfare agencies that are capable of responding to transnational populations. This may entail fostering transnational alliances with social workers from Latin American countries. Such alliances could assist social workers of both receiving and sending communities to develop effective interventions that cut across nation-state boundaries. Social workers from both receiving and sending communities can then benefit from each others’ expertise and collaboratively develop intervention strategies that maintain the well-being of transnational Latino migrants. These alliances can be built through active involvement in international conferences and other international social work networking opportunities. The world wide Downloaded from http://isw.sagepub.com at UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA on October 23, 2007 © 2007 IASSW, ICSW, IFSW. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution. Furman and Negi: Transnational Latino populations 111 web also offers another opportunity to foster and develop transnational social work networks and collaborations. Conclusion An understanding of social work practice with Latino and other transnational migrants is increasingly relevant in these globalized times. Social work researchers and practitioners have an important contribution to make to facilitate the well-being of this vulnerable population. Social workers must utilize their considerable networking, community organizing and advocacy skills to develop specialized interventions with people whose families and allegiances span national borders. In the USA, the social welfare conditions affecting the Latino transnational migrants should be taken into account in the development of social services. 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