In 2006, I traveled across the country to study boarder issues in Nogales. The purpose of the service learning trip was to study border issues from Mexican’s perspective. Through my ethnographic research, I participated in a simulation where I followed in the footsteps of
Mexicans crossing the border. The day began with attending a community church service where locals prayed for community members who were planning to cross the desert the following day. I connected with locals about the lack of economic resources and jobs, the corruption of their political system, gang, and drug trafficking violence. That evening we gathered in a shelter and prepared a meal for everyone to share. I ate with fellow border crossers, many of whom had attempted …show more content…
Through conducting research and transcribing portions of an interview with an African refugee on her experience of moving to the United States, one of the major themes that surfaced was difficulty adjusting to a new culture, feeling isolated from their culture of their country of origin, and a lack of culturally appropriate support within their placement. According to Carlson, Cacciatore, & Kimek, 2012, the type of living arrangements for unaccompanied minors largely impacts their well-being. For example, they may be placed in a long term foster placement that lacks cultural congruence, there are incongruent expectations between the unaccompanied minors and their foster parents, unrealistic expectations about what life would be like in the United States, and a lack of supportive services. The available research findings, however extremely limited, coincided with the findings from my interview as well as personal experiences. As with all vulnerable populations, there are countless needs, but when assessing the needs of unaccompanied minors from a strengths perspective, there are many protective factors that can be mobilized to promote resiliency at the family and community level which was particularly interesting. According to Carlson et al., (2012), much of
Mexicans crossing the border. The day began with attending a community church service where locals prayed for community members who were planning to cross the desert the following day. I connected with locals about the lack of economic resources and jobs, the corruption of their political system, gang, and drug trafficking violence. That evening we gathered in a shelter and prepared a meal for everyone to share. I ate with fellow border crossers, many of whom had attempted …show more content…
Through conducting research and transcribing portions of an interview with an African refugee on her experience of moving to the United States, one of the major themes that surfaced was difficulty adjusting to a new culture, feeling isolated from their culture of their country of origin, and a lack of culturally appropriate support within their placement. According to Carlson, Cacciatore, & Kimek, 2012, the type of living arrangements for unaccompanied minors largely impacts their well-being. For example, they may be placed in a long term foster placement that lacks cultural congruence, there are incongruent expectations between the unaccompanied minors and their foster parents, unrealistic expectations about what life would be like in the United States, and a lack of supportive services. The available research findings, however extremely limited, coincided with the findings from my interview as well as personal experiences. As with all vulnerable populations, there are countless needs, but when assessing the needs of unaccompanied minors from a strengths perspective, there are many protective factors that can be mobilized to promote resiliency at the family and community level which was particularly interesting. According to Carlson et al., (2012), much of