Cultural Competence with Asian Americans

Chapter 12: Cultural Competence with Asian Americans

Group Diversity

  • Definition and Background: Asian Americans in the U.S. were categorized primarily as a legal status rather than as a racial or ethnic group.

    • Reference: Lott (1998) describes Asian Americans as "aliens ineligible for citizenship" for nearly a century.

    • Significant Case: United States vs. Wong Kim Ark: This case is pivotal in understanding the legal status and rights of Asian Americans. More information can be found at PBS's American Experience.

  • Expansion of Categorization: It wasn’t until the 1970s that the category of Asian Americans expanded to include Pacific Americans, highlighting changes in recognition and classification over time.

Ethnic Origins

  • Asian: Refers to individuals with origins from the original peoples of various regions. Specific categories include:

    • Northeast Asian: Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean

    • Southeast Asian: Cambodian, Hmong, Vietnamese, Laotian, Thai, Malaysian, Singaporean

    • Asian Indian: Bengalese, Bharat, Dravidian, East Indian, Goanese

    • Other Asian: Bangladeshi, Burmese, Indonesian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan

  • Pacific Islander: Refers specifically to individuals from Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, and other Pacific Islands.

Immigration History

  • First Immigrants: The first recorded Asian immigrant group in the United States were the Chinese, who arrived during the 1840s. This migration was driven by the search for wealth during the California Gold Rush.

    • Experience of immigrants included hostility, exclusion, and violence.

  • Legislative Impact:

    • Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): This law halted Chinese immigration and solidified discriminatory practices that prevented Chinese immigrants from attaining citizenship. The act was not repealed until 1943.

  • Subsequent Immigration: The waves of Japanese, Korean, and Filipino immigrants that followed in the 1890s also faced significant struggles and discrimination, mirroring the challenges faced by the earlier Chinese immigrants.

  • Native Hawaiians: The struggle for land ownership and federal rights by Native Hawaiians has persisted, especially after Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959.

Cultural Values and Their Implications in Social Work

  • Cultural Strengths: Traditional values upheld by Asian ethnic groups can serve as strengths in the assessment process within social work. These can be utilized as valuable resources for treatment planning and execution.

  • Core Values in Traditional Asian Cultures:

    • Patriarchy: A system where males hold primary power within institutions.

    • Family Loyalty: Emphasis on loyalty to family members over individual desires.

    • Cohesion and Harmony: Importance placed on maintaining family unity and social harmony.

    • Recognition of the necessity for Knowledge Acquisition and Skill Development within the professional context of social work.

  • Integrative Social Work Approaches:

    • Indigenous Strategies: Such strategies should become a crucial component of social work practice.

    • Example: Family Group Counseling strategies should be integrated into work with Asian and Pacific Islander families.

    • Suggestion: In lieu of strictly adhering to Western treatment paradigms, social workers should blend traditional healing methods with Western interventions to provide comprehensive care for clients.

Historical Legislation

  • Exclusionary Act:

    • Further details can be found in resources about the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, accessible through PBS American Experience.

Community Resources

  • Hmong American Partnership (HAP):

    • Focuses on improving life skills, such as computer and English proficiency, aimed at job retention.

    • Engage in preventative strategies against substance abuse and youth crime.

    • Provides support to Hmong parents in understanding U.S. parenting systems and assists elders in adjusting post-resettlement.

  • Hmong American Mutual Assistance Association (HAMAA):

    • Aims to assist Hmong Americans in the Twin Cities through resources related to MFIP (Minnesota Family Investment Program) and employment.

    • Integrates efforts to improve the academic performance of youth and support homeownership among Southeast Asian immigrants.

  • Hmong Cultural Center:

    • Highlights the significance of Hmong cultural education for personal development across various age groups and promotes cross-cultural understanding.

  • Hmong National Development, Inc. (HND):

    • Collaborates with different sectors to enhance educational opportunities and community resources for Hmong individuals.

  • Karen Organization of Minnesota:

    • Offers support to Karen refugees, including social services and employment counseling.

  • Lao Family Community of Minnesota:

    • Assists Hmong families in achieving self-sufficiency and offers aid to individuals recently facing unemployment.

  • Southeast Asian Refugee Community Home (SEARCH):

    • Aims to empower African and Southeast Asian refugees to integrate into American society while honoring cultural values, offering a variety of essential services.

  • Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota:

    • Focuses on maintaining the identity of the Vietnamese community in Minnesota, addressing fundamental economic, educational, and health-related needs for refugees and immigrants.

Additional Resources

  • America's ongoing issues related to anti-Asian hate can be explored through detailed discussions available at PBS's American Experience