This project focused on immigrants' perceptions of social services and social workers. The study employed the post positivist paradigm. The project was conducted with legal and illegal immigrants who received services at Bilingual Family Counseling Service in the city of Ontario, CA. The study found that the immigrants' perceptions about social service agencies and social workers were multi-determined by at least three elements: knowledge, experiences, and attitudes. The dynamic interaction between experiences and attitudes shaped the immigrants' perceptions. Most of the respondents had a positive attitude toward social workers and social services agencies.

Latinos are the fastest growing minority group in the U.S. and are expected to be 25% of the population by the year 2050. Latinos also are more vulnerable and at higher risk for poor health outcomes including diabetes and other chronic health ailments than Anglos. Many of the serious effects of these diseases can be ameliorated with changes in diet and life style. These changes are difficult for ethnic minority populations who lack access to culturally sensitive health and nutrition education. Several innovative and culturally competent programs have been initiated to provide preventative health education to high risk Latinos. Las Comidas Latinas (The Spanish Meals) was developed to teach health and food safety to Latino families as part of a federally funded education program for low income, Food Stamp eligible families. The ecological model was utilized to examine the microsystem, mesosystems, exosystem, and macrosystem processes and changes that underlie the development and implementation of a culturally competent program. What characterized the relationships between and among program staff, other agency partners, and participants? And what organizational processes contributed to the development and success of this culturally competent program? Interviews with participants, staff members at the state, county, supervisory and direct service levels and partner agencies indicated that participants in Las Comidas Latinas reported warm and caring relationships that contributed to positive health and social gains for themselves and their children. Organizational factors at the macro, intermediate, and individual levels such as a positive view of diversity, environmental and political factors, policy changes, and involvement of Latino community leaders contributed to successful program development and implementation. Two major categories of recommendations have emerged for the field and other service programs: attending to cultural norms and enacting flexible organizational policies. Key findings in cultural relevance include: create a bilingual and bicultural workforce, promote a safe and welcoming environment, hire program paraprofessionals for their cultural knowledge, and seek information about the community to be served. Organizational recommendations are to persist in approaching the target community to be served, provide "space" for innovation, and recognize and value unexpected social benefits. Future research suggestions are included. / Graduation date: 2005

Latino communities frequently face barriers in the midst of largely English speaking and mostly Anglo-American culture surrounding communities. These surrounding communities often may be somewhat resistant to adjusting to their changing populations. This case study is a linguistic needs assessment of a Latino community in a small city and neighboring town in the Northwest. Discussed are experiences, needs, and opinions of thirty Latina mother participants in regards to living in this community. Participants, all of whom were monolingual Spanish or limited English proficiency recent immigrants, were recruited through a social service agency serving low income Latinos. The study used observation, ethnographic-style notetaking, theme identification, and questionnaire development based on these themes, with short interviews. Seven themes were identified as central to participants' lives: general language issues, employment, housing, utility companies and social service agencies, medical care, child care and schools, and domestic violence. Implications are that more affordable housing, child care, and higher paying jobs would ameliorate the lives of these low-income Latino families. Also, more bilingual and culturally competent people are needed as property managers, employers, teachers, social service workers, and especially doctors, nurses, and medical receptionists for Latino families to have equal access and for the surrounding community to integrate with its changing population. Recommendations for English as a second language programs include development of curriculum relevant to Latina mothers' lives and teaching of linguistic strategies for living in the surrounding community. Concluding is a recommendation that studies with similar research questions be carried out in the surrounding community and in other Latino communities so, in comparing results, broader statements can be made about this population.