Reaching Latino Clientele: How to Effectively Serve Latino Families and Youth

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Reaching Latino Clientele How to Effectively
Serve Latino Families and Youth

• Andrew Behnke, PhD
• With Thanks to Cintia Aguilar

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U.S. Population Today in Millions
(Migration Policy Institute, 2006 Pew Hispanic,
2007)
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U.S. Latino Population Today in Millions
(Migration Policy Institute, 2006 Pew Hispanic,
2007)
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Immigration Reasons
Growth in Latino Population

• Great diversity
• Acculturation, sending, generation
• Better education for children
• Better economic future
• Safer environment
• Family reunification

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Latino Households
2.5 times as many
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• Challenges and Opportunities
• Limited Understanding of Health Risks
• Heightened frequency of some chronic diseases
  (diabetes, asthma)
• Schools Unprepared for Influx of Latino Students
• Highest Rates of H.S. Dropout
• High Rates of Risky Behaviors
• Immigration Status Issues

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• Challenges
• What are some of the Challenges of youve faced
  in working with this population?

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Barriers to Educational Programming For
Latino Families
Language/Literacy
Unfamiliar and intimidating systems
Overcome Barriers Together
Attitudes of Personnel
Life factors
Past Educational Experiences
Work schedules
Child care
Lack of Information
Transportation
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The Language Barrier

• During the first week of school, Linda has been
  given an application for free and reduce lunches,
  which she had completed and returned, leaving
  blank the questions she couldnt answer. Linda
  has been given a number and told she was
  provisionally approved. A few days later, Linda
  decided to try one of the lines, one offering
  pizza or sub sandwiches. When she got to the cash
  register, the cashier explained that this line
  accepted cash only and that the number was only
  good at the regular line. With almost no English,
  Linda only understood that she needed cash to
  pay for her food. She did not have enough, she
  had to return most or all of her food. Her face
  still turned red just telling the story!
• Youth stories presented are part of Rev. María
  Teresa Unger Palmer 2003 Dissertation at UNC
  Chapel Hill.

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The Language Barrier

• Start small Find 1 in road
• A church, community group, team up
• Realize that many Latinos speak English
• Familiarize yourself with some other-language
  handouts
• Use dual language flyers/handouts

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The Language Barrier

• Attempt to speak the language
• Learn to read Spanish
• Try to learn and use common phrases.
• Avoid using children as interpreters
• Train front-line staff in best practices with
  these families
• Hire bilingual staff

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Why We Do This Work

• Latinos are often
• Welcoming (formal -gt informal)
• Very child focused
• Highly motivated to increase skills
• Curious about resources
• Willing to contribute
• We must serve these families
• No Child Left Behind Title 1
• Title VI of 1965 Civil Rights

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How Do We Get Started?

• Attend cultural events in your community, such as
  festivals and soccer tournaments.
• Create personal connections...
• With other Service Agencies
• With Latino Community Leaders
• Find a Leader to Mentor Under
• With Latino Families and Individuals in the
  Community
• One-on-One Basis

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How Do We Collaborate On These?
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Planning Effective and Engaging Programs

• Building Community Partnerships
• Involve Latino Families in the Planning - funds
  of knowledge
• Brainstorm as a group
• Think Power Team -what talents do we lack?

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Whos Missing at the Table?
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Planning Effective and Engaging Programs

• If you need an interpreter, look for a bilingual
  volunteer known by the community.
• Hold meeting in locations individuals are
  familiar with.

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Planning Effective and Engaging Programs

• Include activities to help participants actively
  participate.
• Consider the work schedule of the families.
• Evenings and weekends are best.
• Remember football, telenovelas, local events,
  religious festivals, etc.

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Remember

• Family comes first!
• Family needs are 1st priority.
• Live in extended family groups.
• Prefer activities that involve all family
  members.
• Children typically live at home until they get
  married.
• Client might live close to family or very far
  away (no support).

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Remember

• If working with youth, plan on meeting his/her
  family first.
• Invite families to appropriate activities and
  events.
• Consider that extended family may also attend.
• When invitations are for specific family members,
  be sure that the message is clear and explain why
  the invitation is limited.

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Remember

• Be personable
• Start with focus on the children
• Get to know their concerns
• Make time to just talk
• Focus on relationships
• Listen - really listen!
• Make things convenient
• Be a little more patient

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Planning Effective and Engaging Programs

• Utilize (Spanish) radio spots to announce the
  meeting and/or program.
• Personally extend invitations through visits or
  phone calls.
• Extend the invitation to all family members.
• If possible provide childcare but in a location
  close to where the meeting is being held.

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Planning Effective and Engaging Programs

• Hang signs in Spanish leading to the meeting
  room, restrooms, and other needed facilities.
• Serve food and/or snacks.
• Offer door prizes.
• Include activities to help participants actively
  participate.

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Planning Effective and Engaging Programs

• Make Programs Less Formal
• Use a variety of teaching styles
• Oral presentation, role plays, hands-on
  activities, drama, video, use of personal
  history, culturally relevant materials
• Written material should be a supporting player

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Organization
Issue
Issue
Issue
Program
Program
Program
Program
Event
Workshop Series
Activity
Group
Series
Training
Event
Activity
- Avoid Fly-By Programs- Instead focus on
long-term projects and activities that relate
to one another.- To be trusted you must stay
the course and win the trust of those you
serve.
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Recruiting Families

• Do presentations or hold information meetings at
• Churches, other community organizations
  meetings, school parents nights.
• Invite other collaborators to show support.
• Word of mouth better than flyers
• Churches, ESL classes, schools, shops,
  restaurants, apt. managers

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Recruiting Parents

• Sell the activity as something you are doing
  for your children
• Appeal to parents and to children
• Already involved parents recruiting others
• Incentives to recruit
• Commercial sponsorship?

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Remember

• Listen to what they want to say even if it not
  related to the task.
• Dont feel you have to answer all their questions
  or resolve their needs.
• Do not get discourage if outcomes are not what is
  expected, try again!
• Building trust is a process that takes time.

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Remember

• Dont assume all programs are transferable.
• It is more important for program content to be
  culturally relevant than to be in the right
  language for some individuals.

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Getting Dad Involved

• Most often a simple invitation from mom or
  personal contact from another caring adult is all
  that is needed
• Also consider sending him a letter emphasizing
  the importance of his role for his children
• Start working with dad ASAP and go slow.

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RETENTION

• Retaining your clients is the most important
  work.
• What would make you stay with a doctor?
• These are the same qualities you want to have to
  serve these families and youth

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Retaining Families

• What do you look for in a doctor?
• A doctor you and your family feel comfortable
  with.
• Someone who is sensitive to your needs.
• And has access to a medical system that can
  handle your problems close to home.
• Provides you as much information as possible.
  (Hobbs, 2001)

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Retaining Families

• What do you look for in a doctor?
• Individuals who are confident in their
  capabilities.
• Caring relationships with the entire family.
• Someone that really gets know their patients.
• A listener who helps them discover the right
  health care decisions.
• Remember, it takes time to build a relationship
  with your doctor. (Hobbs, 2001)

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Volunteerism

• In many Latin American countries, volunteering
  refers to activities carried out by the wealthy
  and well positioned on behalf of the poor.
•  
• For many of the immigrants coming to the United
  States, volunteering is not part of their
  history
• (B. Hobbs, Extension specialist, Oregon State
  University)
•  

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Volunteerism

• Start Escuelas de Pesca
• Train leaders, educators, and interventionist on
  how to serve the Latino community
• Use the pool of individuals you serve as the
  primary source of new leaders
• Give them the tools they need
• Provide them with opportunities to be mentored or
  to shadow
• Show them the value of their skills
• both monetary and social value

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Volunteerism

• Helping others is second nature to Latinos. It
  isnt viewed as something you do at a particular
  time, for a particular group. Caring and
  helpfulness occur every day as needs arise.
  Whether its giving time, money, or other
  resources, Latinos willingly volunteer to help
  family, friends, and community members. (B.
  Hobbs, Extension specialist, Oregon State
  University).

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Volunteerism

• Consider how your participants can contribute
• Bringing food
• Outreach
• Trained to provide phone support
• Committees
• Childcare

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Any Questions?

• Feel free to email me for more information or a
  copy of these slides
• andrew_behnke_at_ncsu.edu

Gracias y Buena Suerte!