Group Work Practice with Asian Clients

While considerable interest has been given to the social work with Asian-Americans, little attention has been paid to the Asian group work practice. This article suggests a sociocultural approach in working with Asian groups, including a knowledge of the sociocultural heritage of the Asian clients, the proper respect for the members of the family on group process, and the group worker's, awareness of the significance of role expectation and its meaning for clients. In dealing with these sociocultural aspects, the social worker's role in Asian group treatment is that of a culture broker and enabler.     

'Everyone Started Shouting': Making Connections between the Process of Family Group Conferences and Family Therapy Practice

This article presents findings from a qualitative study of familygroup conferences (FGCs) in Wales, UK. The study examined theprocess of seventeen FGCs involving twenty-five young people,using semi-structured interviews, analysis of documents andcollection of data on welfare outcomes. Young people were re-interviewedafter six months. The article focuses on the data concerningreported communications between family members during the familymeetings. These data are discussed in relation to similaritiesand differences between FGCs and family therapy sessions. Theauthors conclude that each method of intervention presents potentiallessons and challenges to the other. FGC co-ordinators mightwish to reflect on how to manage and prepare family membersfor the potential for expressions of emotion and disclosuresof confidential information that might arise in a family meeting.Family therapy has a long history of successfully working withsuch processes. Additionally, family therapists may wish toreflect on the successful management of intra-familiar conflictand disclosure by many families acting without a therapist orother professional present in a FGC.     

Adaptation and Evaluation of a Group Curriculum for Latino Clients in a Driving Under the Influence Program

The purpose of this study was to describe the process of culturally adapting group curriculum modules for Spanish speaking clients in a Driving Under the Influence Program as well as to test the acceptability of these modules. Using the Group Topics Evaluation Scale (English and Spanish version), 90 clients rated six modules that were presented in 30 different group sessions. Spanish speaking clients were significantly more likely to rate all six modules much higher than their English speaking counterparts, indicating acceptability. This is important as driving-under-the-influence programs may provide access to Latino clients not seen elsewhere. Possible further research is discussed.     

A racial comparison of Family Group Decision Making in the USA1

This study examined Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) among a nationally representative sample of African‐American and White children investigated for maltreatment in the US. While FGDM was developed for work with ethnic minority families, there is no research on how this is being carried out in the US, where African‐American children are overrepresented in child welfare services. The study views racial differences in child, caregiver and maltreatment characteristics related to FGDM; composition of FGDM meetings; service referrals and receipt; and service satisfaction. Data are from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well‐being (NSCAW), a study of 5501 children ages 0–14. Current analyses include African‐American and White children (n= 4129). Stratified, bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were used. Results showed that while race was not related FGDM receipt, different characteristics lead to FGDM among African‐American and White families. Surprisingly, caregivers report feeling no more involved in decision‐making in association with FGDM. FGDM is provided at low rates overall (10%) and less frequently among White caseworkers. Child access to mental health services increases in relation to FGDM. Implications are discussed.     

A Group Therapy Approach to the Treatment of Incest

The paper describes an empirically-based group therapy model for adult survivors of childhood incest. Process as well as outcome data based on a sample of 53 women are reported. The findings suggest that group intervention did help reduce depression and improve self-assessment. Follow-up data on levels of depression show that gains at termination were maintained at least six months post-intervention. Further monitoring, testing and fine-tuning of the model is still necessary.     

Parents' Experiences During the Family Reunification Process: A Chinese Context

Family reunification is always an integral part of a permanency plan and is a preferable outcome for children in care. However, reunification is not straightforward, involving many subsequent negotiations between parents, children, and social workers, sparking various emotions and struggles among the involved parties. Current research on parental experiences of family reunification is predominantly of a cross‐sectional nature, and rarely reflects the parents' experience throughout the process. This paper reports the results of a qualitative panel study aimed at exploring the experiences Chinese parents have during the process of children returning home from care. Seven parents were recruited. Data was collected at three time points and informants narrated their experiences from both a retrospective and prospective perspective. The findings showed that all parents struggled to become competent caregivers. Three salient themes were identified: inferiority, adjustment, and challenge. The parents' experiences revealed the prevalence of stigmatization among social work professions toward parents. This study recommends re‐focusing the policy direction and intervention strategies of out‐of‐home care from family coercion to family support.     

美国少数族群传媒关于族群和国家认同的研究

美国学者对少数族群传媒的研究表明,少数族群传媒具有促进族群与国家双重认同的特点,对族群文化的认同不等同于对移民来源国的政治认同。当然美国学者有关研究也存在不足,只有公平、公正、包容地对待少数族群传媒,才能减少传媒与政府的矛盾,才能促进少数族群融入主流社会,增强对国家的认同。     

Family and Friends of People with HIV/AIDS Support Group

ABSTRACT

Those who are supporting a loved one with HIV/AIDS are under a great deal of stress and need support too. This article describes a support group for family and friends living with HIV/AIDS in which members share their personal experiences, educate one another, and in the process, realize they are not alone as they learn to cope with the diagnosis of AIDS or HIV+ in someone they love. The struggles, conflicts, and emotions of the group members and of the group facilitators are discussed.     

美国族群问题及其破解对策

美国是一个多族群的国家,族群之间的矛盾和斗争充斥着整个美国历史发展过程。"二战"之后,特别是20世纪80年代以来,由于白人至上主义和极右思潮的抬头,美国族群关系更趋于紧张。然而,在前苏联、南斯拉夫这些多族群国家解体的后冷战时代,美国却能够保持相对稳定的族群关系。这主要得益于其不断完善的法律制度、多元与一体的相对平衡,以及不断改进的社会保障制度等因素。由于美国族群政策是建立在资本主义私有制基础之上的,具有不可避免的局限性,因而对美国的族群政策应重于研究、分析,慎于借鉴。     

东亚模式的文化倾向及其前景--以近年日韩经济发展为中心

推动东亚起飞的东亚模式,除资源、技术、资本等经济条件外,知识、创新和发展文化学因素也是不可忽视的动力.信息化和经济全球化促进了日本价值观念的变化,日本文化在开放、变革和发展中融合新机形成自己特色,日本经济的复苏寄希望于创新知识、技术和文化的作用.韩国以技术创新变革传统文化和习惯理性,广泛吸纳新知识、新技术,并向"知识经济社会"转向.东亚以独特的文化传统和价值观念形成的地域经济和社会发展模式的革新势在必行.     

A Group Work Approach to Post-Surrender Treatment of Unwed Mothers

This paper examines the developmenl and use of a short-term group work approach to providing treatment to women who have surrendered a child for adoption. The clients' experiences during pregnancy, after the birth of their child, and following their surrender are discussed in the context of the group process. Further, an attempt is made to identify the major issues facing these clients and to suggest ways in which group treatment can help them deal with the underlying problems while supporting their adjustment to a most difficult life crisis.     

日本现代化进程中的家庭关系嬗变

明治维新以来,伴随着政治、经济、社会和文化的变迁,日本的家庭制度、家庭形态、家庭功能和家庭观念都发生着蜕变与演化.带有浓重封建色彩的家庭关系经历了沿袭与改良相砥砺的振荡,由外而内的社会变革推动下的重建,由内而外的个体自觉驱使下的渐变.本文分三大历史阶段探讨了日本家庭关系在现代化进程中演进的外部条件和内部机理,旨在揭示社会进步与家庭演变、个体发展之间的同构性与背反性,考察家庭领域内东方传统文化与现代文明的冲突与交融.     

从少数民族基本文化权利看我国清真食品管理法律制度

我国现行的关于清真食品管理方面的法律规定主要集中在清真食品行业的准入规定、清真食品行业经营设施的规定及对清真食品宰杀的规定等。这些规定存在着各地立法不统一、管理主体不明确和管理手段过于单一等问题。文化权利在国际人权体系中构成特定的类别,其中的一个重要方面就是少数民族保持其传统生活方式的权利。少数民族食用清真食品的权利不仅是少数民族的经济权利,也是少数民族基本文化权利的重要内容之一。从这一视角出发,我国现行的清真食品管理法律制度应在全国性立法的创制与实施、企业社会责任的加强等方面进一步完善。     

明清“水田彝”的国家化进程及其族群性的生成:以四川冕宁白鹿营彝族为例

本文主要利用四川冕宁白鹿营彝族文书和《冕宁档案》,试图揭示明清“水田彝”的国家化进程及其族群性的生成。明万历后期,为抵抗叛乱,部分大凉山彝人被宁番卫招募到平坝充当营兵,形成白鹿营等彝族聚落。入清后,白鹿营彝人随土司的招立再次被纳入国家体制,但直到乾隆晚期,其聚落形态、权力格局和风俗文化等方面仍保持着较强的独立性。此后,随着移民的到来、保甲的编设及文教的推广,白鹿营彝族的独立性逐渐弱化,国家认同感日益增强,最终形成有别于高山彝族的“水田彝”。明清“水田彝”的国家化,既促进了边疆的稳固,同时也生成了其独特的族群性。     

The Process of Change in Complicated Grief Group Therapy for Bereaved Dementia Caregivers: An Evaluation Using the Meaning of Loss Codebook

ABSTRACT

Caring for a person with dementia has adverse health and mental health effects that, for 9–25% of caregivers, persist as complicated grief (CG). For bereaved dementia caregivers unable to satisfactorily grieve, specialized Complicated Grief Group Therapy (CGGT) can restore healthy grief. We investigated therapeutic change in CGGT participants, using an adapted version of the Gillies’ Meaning of Loss Codebook. Participants demonstrated positive gains in 16 thematic areas, notably in moving on with life, summoning pleasant memories, and ascribing bad memories to disease rather than decedent. Meaning transitioned from negative to positive interpretations of the death over the course of treatment.     

The Role of Heritage Language Development in the Ethnic Identity and Family Relationships of Adolescents from Immigrant Backgrounds

The influence of immigrant-background adolescents' heritage language (HL) proficiency and use of the language on parent–adolescent relationships and ethnic identity was investigated in a sample of 414 adolescents from Latin American and Asian backgrounds. HL proficiency, but not language use, was positively associated with the quality of parent–adolescent relationships. Although HL proficiency and language use were both associated with ethnic identity, when taken together, only HL proficiency was a reliable predictor. These findings indicate that it is the development of proficiency in the HL that influences adolescents' successful adjustment, rather than their choice of languages. It is therefore important to support HL development in order to help immigrant-background students to better cope with the stresses of adolescence.