Return-Migration to Mexico and the Gendered Transnational Migration Process.

The Mexico-USA border is one of the most active borders in the world with many migrant men traveling to the United States to serve as "breadwinners" for their families. Yet knowledge within psychology is limited regarding how Latino migrants' masculine identities may be shaped within the migration context as a vast majority of studies are set within the United States. This gap in the literature continues to exist despite many Latino migrant men's engagement in transnational lifestyles involving multiple migrations between their country of origin and the United States. A more complete investigation of all phases of the migration journey, including return-migration, is then vital in the understanding of migrant men's experiences. Guided by gender strain theory and transnational conceptual frameworks, we used case study methodology to examine masculinity among return-migrants in Petlalcingo, Mexico to understand how migration-related life events relate to masculinity by identifying key moments and turning points within their migration process, such as: the decision to migrate, the migration journey, adjustment and acculturation in a new country and return-migration. Findings elucidate a gendered migration process as well as key variables that can be utilized in the development of larger binational studies examining masculinity and migration.

Introducing embedded indigenous psychological support teams: a suggested addition to psychological first aid in an international context.

The current article introduces Embedded Indigenous Psychological Support Teams (IPST) as a possible addition to current disaster relief efforts. This article highlights psychological first aid in an international context by drawing on mainstream disaster relief models such as The American Red Cross, Critical Incident Stress Management, and Flexible Psychological First Aid. IPST are explained as teams utilizing techniques from both CISM and FPFA with a focus on resiliency. It is currently theorized that in utilizing IPST existing disaster relief models may be more effective in mitigating negative physical or mental health consequences post-disaster.

Men at risk: considering masculinity during hospital-based social work intervention.

The needs of hospitalized male patients are often unrecognized and unmet. Men occupy greater than half of all inpatient hospital beds and incur a broad array of illnesses and injuries at higher rates than women--yet often receive health care that pays surprisingly little attention to the concept of patient masculinity, or to masculinity's influence on the male patient's perspectives, behaviors, goals, interests, needs, and challenges. Little emphasis is placed on considering hospitalized male patients as men , understanding their need for patient-centered care within this context, and intervening in ways that regularly allow strengths to be adequately recognized and utilized. In this article, we explore how hospital social workers can reconsider masculinity as a vibrant and formative component of male patients' lives and actively view its characteristics as comprising more than just potential challenges to medical treatment--but also as untapped sources of resilience and strength.

Undocumented Latino immigrant men in the United States: Policy and practice considerations.

This article presents an exploration of undocumented, Latino male immigrants in the United States, and assesses the impact of new state policies and their implications for social work practice. To meet its aims, we describe the psychosocial risks that they face, and situated these risks within the context of new state policy realities. Implications for practice are presented.

The Criminalization of Immigration: Value Conflicts for the Social Work Profession.

This article examines the impact of the criminalization of immigration on non-documented immigrants and the profession of social work. To meet its aims, the article explores the new realities for undocumented immigrants within the context of globalization. It then assesses the criminal justice and homeland security responses to undocumented immigrants, also referred to as the criminalization of immigration. It subsequently explores the ethical dilemmas and value discrepancies for social workers that are implicated in some of these responses. Finally, it presents implications for social workers and the social work profession.

Poetic forms and structures in qualitative health research.

In this article, the author explores the uses of poetic forms in qualitative health research, analyzing thematically a poem written from a patient's perspective of being treated in an emergency room. From the themes identified, he created two "research poems" using two formal poetic structures: the French-Malaysian pantoum, and the Japanese-inspired American tanka. The author contextualizes this research through an exploration of the arts and poetry as qualitative research.

Wrap-around services: an analysis of community-based mental health services for children.

TOPIC: Wrap-around services-individualized, community-based mental health services for children in their homes and schools-for children with severe emotional and behavioral disorders. PURPOSE: To conduct an analysis of the social policy antecedents that culminated in wrap-around services in one state and consider the development of one state's implementation and relevant value issues. SOURCES: Policy and historical literature; the first author's experience as a director of a large wrap-around program. CONCLUSIONS: While the advent of wrap-around services and the expansion of Medicaid represent significant steps forward in the treatment of children with mental health problems, outcome studies of these services are sorely needed.

Poetry therapy, men and masculinities.

Therapists have long utilized poetry with various at risk male populations. Yet, in spite of its use, therapists have also been aware of the dilemmas associated with using poetry in a population whose behavior and identity may at times run counter to the core tenants of poetry therapy. However, the literature of poetry therapy does not fully explore what therapists need to know about men and masculinities in order to work with them. This article helps prepare therapists using poetry to become more sensitive to gender issues and utilize this understanding in their practice with men. It explores some of the key concepts from gender and masculinities studies and provides examples for how these concepts can be used in practice.

Enhancing Self-Awareness: A Practical Strategy to Train Culturally Responsive Social Work Students.

A primary goal of social justice educators is to engage students in a process of self-discovery, with the goal of helping them recognize their own biases, develop empathy, and become better prepared for culturally responsive practice. While social work educators are mandated with the important task of training future social workers in culturally responsive practice with diverse populations, practical strategies on how to do so are scant. This article introduces a teaching exercise, the Ethnic Roots Assignment, which has been shown qualitatively to aid students in developing self-awareness, a key component of culturally competent social work practice. Practical suggestions for classroom utilization, common challenges, and past student responses to participating in the exercise are provided. The dissemination of such a teaching exercise can increase the field's resources for addressing the important goal of cultural competence training.

Social work practice with Latinos: key issues for social workers.

The Latino population is the fastest growing group in the United States; thus, it is imperative that social workers and other mental health practitioners be knowledgeable about the current literature on how to effectively serve this population. This article elucidates key issues and knowledge, such as immigration and migration concerns; discusses how to assess for levels of acculturation; examines cultural values; and highlights salient work issues and health disparities that Latinos experience. Recommendations on how agencies and universities can recruit and promote bilingual practitioners are introduced. Finally, culturally responsive strategies for professional use of self and fostering the therapeutic alliance are discussed.