Journal Of Ethnic And Cultural Diversity In Social Work

Smith, Sharon Hines

doi: 10.1300/J051v13n02_01pmid: N/A

AbstractThis paper addresses issues related to family end-of-life care decision making by presenting the results of a qualitative study designed to explore this process with 15 African American families who had an elderly relative (65 years of age or over) die following 2 weeks or more of care in a hospice or an acute or long-term care facility. Findings suggest that family participants' end-of-life care decisions were characterized in thematic patterns focusing on the primacy of the dying family member's wishes, inclusion of family members in the decision-making process, maximization of treatment options, and religious influences. The implications of this study for culturally sensitive social work practice are discussed.

Hyde, Cheryl A.; Hopkins, Aren

doi: 10.1300/J051v13n02_02pmid: N/A

AbstractThis article focuses on “diversity climates” of human service agencies. An organization's diversity climate is comprised of both the degree of member heterogeneity and efforts to promote and sustain an environment conducive to maximizing the benefits of that heterogeneity. Data are from diversity audits conducted in 161 nonprofit and public human service agencies that provide health/mental health, welfare, child/adolescent, educational, and community programs. Findings indicate racial and gender segregation in that most organizations have management and staff that are overwhelmingly White and female. Strategies for the promotion of diversity tend to be basic and limited and are not likely to result in substantial or long-lasting change that would embed diversity into an organization's culture. Public welfare agencies appear to have the weakest diversity climates. Discussion addresses concerns regarding the absence of robust diversity climates in human service agencies.

Banerjee, Mahasweta M.; Pyles, Loretta

doi: 10.1300/J051v13n02_03pmid: N/A

AbstractIn this paper, the authors examine the meaning and role of spirituality in the lives of eight women of color, participating in a welfare-to-work program. Although largely ignored in social work practice in the context of welfare reform, these women indicate through in-depth interviews that spirituality is a vital source of resilience for them. They articulate their meaning of spirituality, spiritual practices, spiritual experiences with material hardships, and how spirituality helps them to cope with manifestations of poverty and welfare reform. The authors conclude that by building on the spiritual strengths of women of color, social workers can be supportive witnesses to peoples' ability to heal themselves, and appropriately respond to welfare reform.

Yoon, Dong Pil

doi: 10.1300/J051v13n02_04pmid: N/A

AbstractWhile the past several decades have witnessed an increase in the amount of research examining the ethnic identity and mental health of intercountry adoptees, this literature is still insufficient to guide the conceptualization and development of sense of ethnic pride to improve general well-being of intercountry adoptees. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses of 241 Korean-born adolescent adoptees provide findings that a more positive parent-child relationship and a greater collective self-esteem acquired through parental support of ethnic socialization each predicts a greater subjective well-being of adopted children, suggesting that a negative sense of ethnic identity represents a vulnerability to psychosocial well-being. The implications of the study for practice and policy regarding adoptive parents raising their adoptees are discussed.

Snyder, Linda; Bowman, Sarah

doi: 10.1300/J051v13n02_05pmid: N/A

AbstractThis paper describes some special considerations in human services work with Old Order Mennonites. Because of Old Order Mennonites' beliefs about the importance of living apart from mainstream society and the ethic of taking care of each other within the community, interactions with professional services have considerable potential for misunderstanding. An exploratory research project, using interviews with members of the Old Order Mennonite community and with human services providers, offers insight into the context of practice, the array of services used, and the manner in which services can be provided in order to be helpful to members of the community.

doi: 10.1300/J051v13n02_06pmid: N/A

AbstractMULTICULTURALISM AND THE THERAPEUTIC PROCESS. Judith Mishne. New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 2002, 268 pp. Reviewed by Linwood H. Cousins.SOCIAL WORK AND AFRICAN-CENTERED WORLD VIEWS. Makeda Graham. Birmingham, England: Venture Press, 2002, 164 pp. Reviewed by Ruth White.