Latino Mental Health (LMHP) Research Guide

Written by experts in the use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), this book discusses the utility of psychological tests based on US norms in making clinical decisions for clients from different cultural backgrounds.

Advancing work to effectively study, understand, and serve the fastest growing U.S. ethnic minority population, this volume explicitly emphasizes the racial and ethnic diversity within this heterogeneous cultural group. The focus is on the complex historical roots of contemporary Latino/as, their diversity in skin-color and physiognomy, racial identity, ethnic identity, gender differences, immigration patterns, and acculturation. The work highlights how the complexities inherent in the diverse Latino/a experience, as specified throughout the topics covered in this volume, become critical elements of culturally responsive and racially conscious mental health treatment approaches. By addressing the complexities, within-group differences, and racially heterogeneity characteristic of U.S. Latino/as, this volume makes a significant contribution to the literature related to mental health treatments and interventions.

This book provides culture-centered assessment and intervention strategies for effective clinical practice with Latina/o individuals and families. Mental health professionals will gain new and expanded cultural competence as they learn to sensitively and ethically integrate Latino values into their work. Throughout the text, case scenarios illustrate ways to work successfully with clients of all ages. A sample culture-centered clinical interview is included, along with a listing of Latino-specific mental health resources. Topics discussed include roles, relationships, and expectations in Latino families; cultural and bicultural values; gender role socialization; generational differences; identity and acculturation issues; educational values and achievement; Latinas/os in the workforce; and religious beliefs and practices.

This Handbook presents current research on children and youth in ethnic minority families. It reflects the development currently taking place in the field of social sciences research to highlight the positive adaptation of minority children and youth. It offers a succinct synthesis of where the field is and where it needs to go. It brings together an international group of leading researchers, and, in view of globalization and increased migration and immigration, it addresses what aspects of children and youth growing in ethnic minority families are universal across contexts and what aspects are more context-specific. The Handbook  examines the individual, family, peers, and neighborhood/policy factors that protect children and promote positive adaptation. It examines the factors that support children's social integration, psychosocial adaptation, and external functioning. Finally, it looks at the mechanisms that explain why social adaptation occurs.

This acclaimed work--now in an extensively revised second edition--provides an up-to-date conceptual framework and hands-on strategies for culturally competent clinical practice with Latino families and individuals. Practitioners and students gain an understanding of the family dynamics, migration experiences, ecological stressors, and cultural resources that are frequently shared by Latino families, as well as variations among them. Through many in-depth case illustrations, the author shows how to apply a multicultural and social justice lens to assessment and intervention, while drawing on each client's strengths. Creative ideas are presented for addressing frequently encountered clinical issues and challenges at all stages of the family life cycle. New to This Edition *Delineates the author's multidimensional, ecosystemic, and comparative approach (MECA) in greater detail; presents MECAmaps, MECAgenograms, and other innovative clinical tools. *Incorporates the latest research and over a decade of social and demographic changes. *Chapter on working with geographically separated families, including innovative uses of technology. *Chapters on health disparities and on adolescents. *Expanded discussions of second-generation risks and strengths and of same-sex marriage, intermarriage, divorce, and stepparenting.

This acclaimed work--now in an extensively revised second edition--provides an up-to-date conceptual framework and hands-on strategies for culturally competent clinical practice with Latino families and individuals. Practitioners and students gain an understanding of the family dynamics, migration experiences, ecological stressors, and cultural resources that are frequently shared by Latino families, as well as variations among them. Through many in-depth case illustrations, the author shows how to apply a multicultural and social justice lens to assessment and intervention that draw on each client's strengths. Creative ideas are presented for addressing frequently encountered clinical issues and challenges at all stages of the family life cycle. New to This Edition *Delineates the author's multidimensional, ecosystemic, and comparative approach (MECA) in greater detail; presents MECAmaps, MECAgenograms, and other innovative clinical tools. *Incorporates the latest research and over a decade of social and demographic changes. *Chapter on working with geographically separated families, including innovative uses of technology. *Chapters on health disparities and on adolescents. *Expanded discussions of second-generation risks and strengths and of same-sex marriage, intermarriage, divorce, and stepparenting.

School-based mental health professionals receive extensive training in assessment and treatment techniques with children. However, most of this training is based on research with white, middle-class populations, whose experiences are hardly universal. In the next decade, ethnic minority students are projected to become the numerical majority in the U.S. public school population. There is a pressing need for assessments and interventions that treat black, Latino, and other ethnic minority children with the understanding and respect they deserve as members of unique cultures with particular mental health needs. This book offers how-to guidance to psychologists and counselors who assess and intervene with ethnic minority children. Beginning with a historical tour of psychoeducational assessment related to ethnic minorities, the book situates basic areas of assessment -- such as neuropsychology, social/emotional assessment, and early childhood development assessment -- within an ethnic minority context. It then offers evidenced-based strategies for improving the educational performance and well-being of ethnically diverse students. This invaluable resource is a comprehensive yet practical starting point for stakeholders to consider when designing and conducting research, clinical assessments, and interventions.

"Shifting demographics, socioeconomic contexts, and resulting policies have highlighted the needs and opportunities to better understand and serve culturally and linguistically diverse populations at the heart of school communities. In its 10 chapters, this book provides comprehensive evidence-based research to guide its conceptual framework, and its extension into practice. Ranging from the learner's development within the family dynamics, to facets of assessment that leads to effective interventions, the book integrates a tapestry that can be used to facilitate effective consultations and services." Ester Cole, PhD., CPsych, Past President, Canadian Association of School Psychologists and the Ontario Psychological Association "As Geva and Weiner point out in their new book, culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students are the new norm. The authors take a broad view of assessment, conceptualizing it as a tool for diagnosing struggling students' strengths and difficulties related to language as well as academic achievement, intelligence, and social emotional functioning. This book provides a much needed resource for educators who want to have a fuller understanding of the reasons why CLD students are struggling and intervene in ways that help these students reach their full potential." Diane August, PhD, Managing Researcher, American Institutes for Research This is the only text for school and clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals to provide a systematic developmental framework for assessment, diagnosis, and consultation of children and adolescents from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Reflecting the most current research and grounded in the authors' extensive experience as clinicians and educators, it provides much-needed, practical strategies for helping students who require adaptations beyond traditional psychological assessment methods. The authors describe the linguistic and cultural issues to consider when assessing students from diverse backgrounds, with a particular focus on children who are from immigrant and refugee families in addition to emerging bilingual learners and children of indigenous peoples. Specific assessment strategies are grounded in new research on the typical developmental trajectories of children who are learning a second language, how second language learning and learning disabilities affect students' academic achievement, the impact of culture and immigration experiences on cognitive, social, and emotional development, and culturally sensitive practice with children, adolescents, and families. The authors also provide a discussion of DSM-5 criteria as they relate to culturally and linguistically diverse children and adolescents. International in scope, the book provides a roadmap for assessment that includes critical elements of decision-making in diagnosis and consultation with families and school staff. Replete with case studies, the book reflects a wide range of languages and cultures. It includes checklists and rating scales, lists of questions to be used in clinical decision-making, lists of "Do's" and "Don'ts" for quick reference, and "Myth vs. Fact" features. The book also features informal instruments developed by the authors that can be accessed online. Key Features: Provides a systematic developmental framework for assessment and diagnosis of students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds Offers strategies for assessment in native language and acquired language Guides practitioners in reporting on assessments and consulting with families and school staff Integrates current research on development of language and literacy of second language-learning children with discussions of key issues of interpreting assessment data Covers the academic, language learning, and social-emotional needs of immigrant an

Fully revised to take into account a new generation of assessment research as well as the dynamic changes within America's Hispanic community, this book provides an up-to-date overview of the clinical testing of Hispanic clients. Today's research on Hispanic clients, their respective cultures and environments, and their psychological health has led to an explosion of measures tailored to their unique needs. This volume provides essential updates on how to use intelligence, neuropsychological, and other clinical measures and stands as a call to arms to increase awareness and understanding of a rapidly evolving demographic. This is an important text for practitioners who wish to improve their competency in working with this still underserved population.