Module 3B: Reflection

After reviewing my classmates’ discussion postings about refugee and immigration experiences, I feel enlightened to the various ways in which social workers need to be compassionate and empathetic with this population. 

Cara created excellent questions that she would ask a potential client that demonstrate her mindfulness of the experiences that clients may have had.  One such question she posed was, “Are you more comfortable speaking with a man or a woman?” (Donahue, 2012).   This is a simple question that has far reaching affects. Asking this question to a client that has been through a difficult experience like fleeing their home country, will help them develop a sense of trust, power, and control in certain situations.  It may help them to feel that the social worker is sensitive to any possible tragedies or trauma that they may have experienced during their journey.  If a woman refugee, for example, has experienced certain traumas at the hands of a man, then she may feel very uncomfortable speaking with a male social worker.

I was also humbled by the question Cara posed about immediate needs.  She asks, “At this moment in time, what is the most critical need that you have? (Food, shelter, clothing, medical attention, someone to talk to…).” (Donahue, 2012)  It is important for a social worker to attend to the most critical and immediate needs of the client in order to help them feel safe and secure.  If a refugee or an immigrant is troubled first and foremost about food and shelter, those are basic needs that must be attended to before the social worker is truly able to connect with the client on any other level.  Additionally, this may help the client establish a greater sense of trust, knowing that someone is helping them immediately.

Jennie and Becky had both mentioned the importance of asking clients about their experience coming immigrating as well as the client’s ability to stay in contact with their family from home.  This too is a good way of connecting with clients on a more personal level to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences that a client may have had to endure in order to flee their country.

Drachma, in her article “Stage-of-Migration Framework for Service to Immigrant Populations” describes the resettlement stage in which a client’s expectations of reception in the new country compare to the reality of the reception in terms of the interactions with service personnel. (1992) The questions that my classmates have created are a testament to their empathic nature.  I take away a clear message of care and concern for the whole person and I realize that when dealing with clients who may have suffered trauma, it may be best to make sure that they feel in control and secure before moving ahead with connecting with them on a deeper level.

Reference:

Donahue, C. (2012).  Learning Space Discussion Board. Human Behavior and the Social Environment II.  Fordham University.

 Drachman, D. (1992). A stage-of-migration framework for service to immigrant populations. Social Work, 37(1), 68-72.