Summary a broad array of papers

Reviewer's Comments

Drachman, Diane, & Paulino, Ana. (Eds.). (2004). Immigrants and Social Work: Thinking Beyond the Borders of the United States. The Haworth Social Work Practice Press: Binghamton, NY. 176 pages. $29.95 paperback.

Immigrants, especially illegal immigrants, have become much debated topics in the U.S. Social work has had a long history of working with immigrant populations; however, this has been more of an urban and coastal cities phenomenon until recently. While politicians, political pundits, governmental entities, and various special interest groups grapple with trying to find common ground, social workers and other human services workers are trying to understand an historic as well as burgeoning phenomenon. Social workers in all parts of the country and in every field are providing needed services to these immigrants, their families, and the communities that have received them. This collection of exemplary papers is both extremely timely and relevant to assist workers in understanding the relationship between immigrants and their sending and receiving communities.

Drachman and Paulino have assembled a broad array of papers that cover particular groups of immigrants, as well as general discussions about the immigration experience. Well-respected international experts provide a unique discussion of immigrants who want to stay in the U.S., those who plan to return to their native countries, people who move back and forth between the U.S. and their native countries (circular migration), and persons who move from their native countries to the U.S and then move on to a third country. We are also reminded of the transnational nature of today’s world.

Although different immigrant populations are discussed—Armenian, Mexican, Chinese, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans—there are some similar themes. Women are viewed as the maintainers of the family, whether they stay behind in the native country or immigrate to the new country. Also, the role that families play in the immigrant process is typically much stronger than the role that families play in the U.S. culture.

This timely and well researched volume reminds us that we need to learn about the history, culture, and laws of the country from which our clients have emigrated, as well as international laws and organizations related to immigrants. Additionally, we need to be cognizant of the push and pull from one country to another and the many reasons why people immigrate.

I found Lynn Healy’s discussion of the difference between working with immigrants and refugees and multicultural work with domestic minority groups to be very informative. Furthermore, the complexity of issues related to the numbers of times people may cross borders and the number of countries people may reside in over a lifetime is very relevant information. The reader can more clearly see the relevance of exchange of money and resources across many borders to families, as well as the toll that the back-and-forth movement of people and resources has on these families.

Immigrants and Social Work: Thinking Beyond the Borders of the United States provides historical, political, and practice information that all social workers need when providing services to immigrants and their families. This book would be an asset for policy, human behavior, multicultural, and practice courses. It would also be especially useful for the clinician, community worker, or administrator who deals with issues related to immigration and immigrants.

Reviewed by Judith A. Davenport, PhD, LCSW, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, University of Missouri-Columbia.

This review appeared in The New Social Worker, Summer 2005, Vol. 12, Number 3.