Bilingual Social Workers: Language and Service Complexities

Engström, David; Piedra, Lissette M; Min, Jong Won

doi:10.1080/03643100902768832

Cited by 50 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The lack of critical services for LEP clients has resulted in increased public spending on repeated, preventable, and often costly hospitalizations. Consistent with the previous literature (Engstrom & Min, ; Engstrom et al., ; Mitchell et al., ), there is a severe shortage of community‐based programs and services that are equipped to support LEP clients back to the community. One participant from a community‐based health center noted that LEP clients do not have enough resources to access services.…”

Section: Findings and Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

“…The field has limited information on Chinese bilingual social workers on the East Coast of the USA. Most empirical evidence on bilingual social workers comes from the West Coast, and recent studies on bilingual social workers have focused on Hispanic workers on the West Coast and have rarely discussed bilingual Chinese social workers (Engstrom & Min, 2004;Engstrom et al, 2009). International research on bilingual social workers and their ethnic and cultural views of mental health issues is scarce (Mitchell, Malak & Small, 1998).…”

Section: Significance Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bilingual Social Workers in Mental Health Service Provision: Cultural Competence, Language, and Work Experience

Liu

2013

Asian Soc Wrk & Pol Rev

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Many agencies actively recruit bilingual social workers. This study presents the reactions of 10 Chinese bilingual social workers to the expectations and demands of their agencies. The study employed a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach. The participants’ responses provide insight into how they manage ethnic and cultural mental health issues in Chinese populations. This study aims to improve social service delivery for clients with limited English proficiency by identifying effective, culturally competent services. The findings suggest that when hiring bilingual social workers, it is just as important for them to be culturally competent as it is for them to be an ethnic or language match with the client base. Having all of these qualities will result in staff members who can provide more effective services by making accurate diagnoses and identifying appropriate treatment plans. In addition to employing bilingual social workers, it is important to maintain good supervision as this will allow supervisees to have a unique perspective on what is involved in providing effective delivery of services to clients with limited English proficiency. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.

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Section: Findings and Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Section: Significance Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Bilingual Social Workers in Mental Health Service Provision: Cultural Competence, Language, and Work Experience

Liu

2013

Asian Soc Wrk & Pol Rev

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“…These observations confirm the failure on the part of some organizations to recognize the dual nature of work requirements and adjust themselves thereto (Engstrom et al;Mitchell et al, 1998). Such situations lead to constant stress, place increased psychological demands on health and social services professionals, and have a negative effect on day-to-day workplace conditions.…”

Section: Discussion: Constant Struggles Can Affect the Well-being Of supporting

confidence: 54%

Health Services for Linguistic Minorities in a Bilingual Setting

et al. 2014

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We explore in this qualitative research the challenges faced by bilingual health and social services professionals in a Canadian bilingual setting, as well as the strategies used to overcome them. Eight focus groups were conducted with a total of 43 bilingual Francophone professionals who offered services in French in 21 health and social service organizations in eastern Ontario, Canada. We highlight linguistic issues affecting a minority Francophone clientele, the shortage of services in French, and organizational issues within these agencies. The solutions that the professionals adopt for better serving the clients and overcoming these challenges focus on adapting services from linguistic angles. In the long term, such an enhanced approach can affect staff well-being. Ensuring access to services for linguistic minority populations and the active offer of same should not rest solely on the shoulders of such professionals, but rather on organizational strategies.

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“…Linguistic competency, including proficiency in the languages spoken by clients, is an essential component of effective client-centered programs (Deehy et al, 2010;Isbell, Seth, Atwood, & Ray, 2013). To be successful, linguistic and cultural competence must be standard operation rather than a specialty service called on for certain participants (Engstrom, Piedra, & Min, 2009;Lonner, 2007).…”

Section: > > Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing Language Barriers in Client-Centered Health Promotion

Seth

Isbell

Atwood

et al. 2014

Health Promotion Practice

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The growing population of nonnative English speakers in the United States challenges program planners to offer services that will effectively reach limited English proficiency (LEP) audiences. This article presents findings from evaluation research conducted with the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to identify best practices and areas of concern for working with LEP clients. Data were collected through online surveys of 338 WIC teaching staff in 2010 and 65 WIC local agency directors in 2011 as part of an implementation evaluation of client-centered nutrition education. Data identified current practices, facilitating factors, and challenges in working with LEP clients. Facilitating factors included cultural competency, material and translation resources, linguistic competency, professional development opportunities, and rapport with clients. Challenges cited included linguistic challenges, lack of cultural competencies, issues related to the client-staff interaction, and insufficient time, materials, and staffing. Best practices inferred from the data relate to developing linguistic standards for bilingual staff, considerations for translating written materials, interpretation services, cultural competency, and staff training. Findings may help inform the development of this and other linguistically and culturally appropriate health promotion programs.

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Bilingual Social Workers: Language and Service Complexities

Cited by 50 publications

References 17 publications

Bilingual Social Workers in Mental Health Service Provision: Cultural Competence, Language, and Work Experience

Bilingual Social Workers in Mental Health Service Provision: Cultural Competence, Language, and Work Experience

Health Services for Linguistic Minorities in a Bilingual Setting

Addressing Language Barriers in Client-Centered Health Promotion

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