The consequences of acculturation to service delivery and research with Hispanic families

The experience of working with Hispanic children and their parents is compared with the existing professional literature. Although the literature acknowledges partially the importance of acculturation, the consequences of acculturation to service delivery and working with Hispanics as research subjects are seldom addressed. These consequences are demonstrated in four areas: as a cause of family problems, in the attitudes of Hispanics toward speaking Spanish and English, in the status of folk healers in the Hispanic community, and in attitudes toward the delivery of human services. The failure to take into account the consequences of acculturation can contribute to the further underutilization of mental health services by Hispanic families.The research described in this article was funded by a grant from the Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation.Special thanks to Laura L. Schmidt, M.A., Research Associate, and to Dora Maya, Ph.D., Program Director, VIVA Family Center, Children's Home and Aid Society of Illinois.