Reaching Latino Clientele: How to Effectively Serve Latino Families and Youth Andrew Behnke, PhD With Thanks to Cintia Aguilar

Reaching Latino Reaching Latino Clientele: Clientele:

How to Effectively Serve How to Effectively Serve Latino Families and YouthLatino Families and Youth

Andrew Behnke, PhDAndrew Behnke, PhDWith Thanks to Cintia AguilarWith Thanks to Cintia Aguilar

(Migration Policy Institute, 2006; Pew Hispanic, 2007)

U.S. PopulationU.S. Population Today in Millions Today in Millions

255

1717214Non- Foreign Born C itiz ensNaturaliz ed C itiz ensLegal Residents/ Refugees/ AsyleesTemporary/ Other Immigrant StatusUndocumented

U.S. Latino PopulationU.S. Latino Population Today in Millions Today in Millions

7

9111

29

Non- Foreign Born C itiz ensNaturaliz ed C itiz ensLegal Residents/ Refugees/ AsyleesTemporary/ Other Immigrant StatusUndocumented

(Migration Policy Institute, 2006; Pew Hispanic, 2007)

Immigration ReasonsImmigration ReasonsGreat diversityGreat diversity

•Acculturation, sending, generationAcculturation, sending, generation

•Better education for childrenBetter education for children

•Better economic futureBetter economic future

•Safer environmentSafer environment

•Family reunificationFamily reunification

Growth in Latino Growth in Latino PopulationPopulation

Latino HouseholdsLatino Households

2.5 times as many2.5 times as many

Challenges and Challenges and Opportunities 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

ChallengesChallenges What are some of the Challenges of

you’ve faced in working with this population?

Barriers toEducational

Programming For LatinoFamilies

Life factors

Language/Literacy

Past Educational Experiences

Transportation

Work schedules

Child care

Attitudes of Personnel

Unfamiliarand intimidating

systems

Lack of Information

Overcome Barriers Overcome Barriers TogetherTogether

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

**Youth stories presented are part of Rev. María Teresa Unger Palmer 2003 Dissertation at Youth stories presented are part of Rev. María Teresa Unger Palmer 2003 Dissertation at UNC Chapel Hill.UNC Chapel Hill.

The Language BarrierThe Language Barrier

Start small – Start small – Find 1 in roadFind 1 in road A church, community group, & A church, community group, &

team upteam up Realize that many Latinos speak Realize that many Latinos speak

EnglishEnglish

Familiarize yourself with some Familiarize yourself with some other-language handouts other-language handouts Use dual language flyers/handoutsUse dual language flyers/handouts


Attempt to speak the languageAttempt to speak the language Learn to read SpanishLearn to read Spanish Try to learn and use common Try to learn and use common

phrases.phrases. Avoid using children as interpretersAvoid using children as interpreters

Train front-line staff in best Train front-line staff in best practices with these families practices with these families

Hire bilingual staffHire bilingual staff


Latinos are often:Latinos are often: Welcoming (formal -> informal)Welcoming (formal -> informal) Very child focusedVery child focused Highly motivated to increase skillsHighly motivated to increase skills Curious about resourcesCurious about resources Willing to contributeWilling to contribute

We must serve these families We must serve these families No Child Left Behind Title 1No Child Left Behind Title 1 Title VI of 1965 Civil RightsTitle VI of 1965 Civil Rights

Why We Do This WorkWhy We Do This Work

AttendAttend cultural events in your cultural events in your community, such as festivals and community, such as festivals and soccer tournaments.soccer tournaments.

CreateCreate personal connections... personal connections... With other Service Agencies With other Service Agencies With With Latino Community LeadersLatino Community Leaders

Find a Leader to Mentor Under Find a Leader to Mentor Under With With Latino Latino Families and Families and

Individuals in the CommunityIndividuals in the Community One-on-One BasisOne-on-One Basis

How Do We Get Started?How Do We Get Started?

How Do We Collaborate On These?

Planning Effective and Planning Effective and Engaging ProgramsEngaging Programs

Building Community PartnershipsBuilding Community Partnerships

Involve Latino Families in the Involve Latino Families in the Planning - “funds of knowledge”Planning - “funds of knowledge”

Brainstorm as a groupBrainstorm as a group

Think “Power Team” -what talents Think “Power Team” -what talents do we lack?do we lack?

Who’s Missing at the Table?Who’s Missing at the Table?


If you need an interpreter, look If you need an interpreter, look for a bilingual volunteer known for a bilingual volunteer known by the community.by the community.

Hold meeting in locations Hold meeting in locations individuals are familiar with.individuals are familiar with.


Include activities to help Include activities to help participants actively participate.participants actively participate.

Consider the work schedule of Consider the work schedule of the families.the families.Evenings and weekends are best.Evenings and weekends are best.Remember football, telenovelas, Remember football, telenovelas,

local events, religious festivals, local events, religious festivals, etc.etc.

Remember… Remember…

Family comes first!Family comes first! Family needs are 1Family needs are 1stst priority. priority. Live in extended family groupsLive in extended family groups. . Prefer activities that involve all Prefer activities that involve all

family members.family members. Children typically live at home Children typically live at home

until they get married.until they get married. Client might live close to family Client might live close to family

or very far away (no support). or very far away (no support).


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.


Be personable=Be personable=Start with focus on the childrenStart with focus on the childrenGet to know their concernsGet to know their concernsMake time to just talkMake time to just talkFocus on relationshipsFocus on relationshipsListen - really listen!Listen - really listen!Make things convenient Make things convenient Be a little more patientBe a little more patient


Utilize (Spanish) radio spots to Utilize (Spanish) radio spots to announce the meeting and/or announce the meeting and/or program.program.

Personally extend invitations Personally extend invitations through visits or phone calls.through visits or phone calls.

Extend the invitation to all family Extend the invitation to all family members. members. If possible provide childcare but in a If possible provide childcare but in a

location close to where the meeting location close to where the meeting is being held. is being held.


Hang signs in Spanish leading to Hang signs in Spanish leading to the meeting room, restrooms, and the meeting room, restrooms, and other needed facilities.other needed facilities.

Serve food and/or snacks.Serve food and/or snacks.

Offer door prizes. Offer door prizes.

Include activities to help Include activities to help participants actively participate.participants actively participate.

Make Programs Less FormalMake Programs Less Formal

Use a variety of teaching styles: Use a variety of teaching styles: Oral presentation, role plays, Oral presentation, role plays,

hands-on activities, drama, video, hands-on activities, drama, video, use of personal history, culturally use of personal history, culturally relevant materialsrelevant materials

Written material should be a Written material should be a supporting playersupporting player


IssueIssue IssueIssueIssueIssue

ProgramProgram

OrganizationOrganization

ProgramProgramProgramProgramProgramProgram

EventEventWorkshop Series Workshop Series ActivityActivity GroupGroup SeriesSeriesTrainingTrainingEventEvent ActivityActivity

- - Avoid “Fly-By Programs…”Avoid “Fly-By Programs…”

-- Instead focus on long-term projects and Instead focus on long-term projects and activities that relate to one another. activities that relate to one another.

- - To be trusted you must stay the course and win To be trusted you must stay the course and win the trust of those you serve. the trust of those you serve.

• 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

Recruiting FamiliesRecruiting Families

Sell the activity as “something” Sell the activity as “something” you are doing for your children you are doing for your children

Appeal to parents and to childrenAppeal to parents and to children

Already involved parents Already involved parents recruiting othersrecruiting others

Incentives to recruit Incentives to recruit

Commercial sponsorship? Commercial sponsorship?

Recruiting ParentsRecruiting Parents


Listen to what they want to say even if it not related to the task. Don’t 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.


Don’t 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.

Getting Dad InvolvedGetting Dad Involved Most often a simple invitation Most often a simple invitation

from mom or personal contact from mom or personal contact from another caring adult is all from another caring adult is all that is neededthat is needed

Also consider sending him a Also consider sending him a letter emphasizing the letter emphasizing the importance of his role for his importance of his role for his childrenchildren

Start working with dad ASAP and Start working with dad ASAP and go slow….go slow….

RETENTIONRETENTION

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

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)

Retaining FamiliesRetaining 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)

Retaining FamiliesRetaining Families

““In many Latin American countries, In many Latin American countries, volunteering refers to activities carried volunteering refers to activities carried out by the wealthy and well positioned out by the wealthy and well positioned on behalf of the poor.”on behalf of the poor.”

““For many of the immigrants coming to For many of the immigrants coming to the United States, volunteering is not the United States, volunteering is not part of their history” part of their history”

(B. Hobbs, Extension specialist, Oregon State University)(B. Hobbs, Extension specialist, Oregon State University)

VolunteerismVolunteerism

Start “Start “Escuelas de PescaEscuelas de Pesca””Train leaders, educators, and Train leaders, educators, and

interventionist on how to serve the interventionist on how to serve the Latino communityLatino community

Use the pool of individuals you serve Use the pool of individuals you serve as the primary source of new leaders as the primary source of new leaders Give them the tools they needGive them the tools they needProvide them with opportunities to be Provide them with opportunities to be

mentored or “to shadow”mentored or “to shadow”Show them the value of their skills Show them the value of their skills

both monetary and social valueboth monetary and social value


““Helping others is second nature to Helping others is second nature to Latinos. It isn’t viewed as something Latinos. It isn’t viewed as something you do at a particular time, for a you do at a particular time, for a particular group. Caring and particular group. Caring and helpfulness occur every day as needs helpfulness occur every day as needs arise. Whether it’s giving time, money, arise. Whether it’s giving time, money, or other resources, Latinos willingly or other resources, Latinos willingly volunteer to help family, friends, and volunteer to help family, friends, and community members.” community members.” (B. Hobbs, Extension (B. Hobbs, Extension specialist, Oregon State University).specialist, Oregon State University).


Consider how your participants Consider how your participants can contribute: can contribute: Bringing foodBringing foodOutreachOutreachTrained to provide phone supportTrained to provide phone supportCommitteesCommitteesChildcareChildcare


Feel free to email me for more Feel free to email me for more information or a copy of information or a copy of these slides:these slides:

[email protected][email protected]

Any Questions?Any Questions?

¡ Gracias y Buena Suerte!

Documents

Reaching Latino Clientele: How to Effectively Serve Latino Families and Youth Andrew Behnke, PhD With Thanks to Cintia Aguilar