Asian Indian, Pakistani, and Middle Eastern Families in Psycho- Therapy
One family assessment treatment issue is about the differences in rates of acculturation of family members. The general rule of thumb says that the degree of acculturation depends on: how many years were spent in the US, age at migration time, exposure to local culture and people, professional affiliations, work setting, spiritual and religious beliefs, health, and speaking English. Different family members may use different resources for coping, including resilience and internal hardiness. An example for this treatment issue is a family migrating from Eastern Europe.
The family is composed of a single grandfather, his only pregnant daughter and a grandson (son of the daughter). The grandfather hardly speaks English and has been through wars and oppression in his life. The daughter has a chance to get some education and learn some English. The retired grandson is about 2 years old and is now learning to speak. The unborn child is about to be born in the US. The four family members differ with their past history of oppression, their ability to speak English, their age at migration time, the possibilities of resources, exposure to the US, chances and speed of adaption, work and education status, and personality.
Another issue is the impact of migration on family and individual life cycles. The adjustment to the new world is a developing process, which affects family members differently, depending on their age and overall life cycle. For example, Asian parents who migrate with their 18-year-old twins, have to deal with separating from them, or living separately, while the twins move way to go to college and, at the same time, adjust to a completely new world.
Reaching Out! Community Program Ideas for Healthcare Facilities
Community programming is instrumental to enhancing the services of any activity department. With the implementation of the 2006 revised CMS Activities Guidance to Surveyors, there is a heightened focus on the individual needs and interests of the residents. Involving local communities and volunteers is an essential part of establishing a well-balanced, diverse program of activities. There are many organizations, clubs, and associations that can be contacted. Ask them to post an announcement in their newsletter, bulletins, flyers, or bulletin board, or announce at their next meeting, that community groups and volunteers are needed at your facility. Inform them of your specific needs i.e. you need a volunteer that speaks German that can read to a resident or you would like a volunteer who can do arts and crafts. Other methods of recruitment include word of mouth, media coverage, on-line, family members and visitors, community fairs/events and mailings.
Often times, Activity Directors are given the responsibility of developing and managing the volunteer and community outreach program. It can become overwhelming. Activity Directors often do not pursue volunteers and community groups because of the extensive work that goes into it. There is ongoing research, organization, planning, implementation, and follow-up. For that reason, it is suggested that each facility have a Volunteer Coordinator or someone who is primarily assigned to manage these responsibilities. But since it is not common practice to have a separate Volunteer Coordinator, here are some ideas and suggestions that will help you reach out to the community and expand your volunteer program.
School System
Some Presuppositions of Humanity
“As members of the human species, future generations will be essentially the same as we are.” That is, they will have the same basic need and seek the same basic rights. By basic needs I am referring, as a minimum, to those things necessary for human survival: food, water, air, etc. I also include, negatively protection from life-destroying conditions, such as extreme temperatures, a poisoned environment, or damaging levels of radioactivity. These needs derive directly from the most basic human right, the right to exist. There are other rights and other needs, too, but the claim to them is less powerful than the claims directly associated with life itself.
“Future generations will seek their own pleasure, just as we do.” Utilitarian call this the only motivating force of human activity on the grounds that all other motives can be reduced to it. They have, therefore, proposed the general ethical principle that we should always seek to maximize human happiness and minimize human pain. Since persons born in future generations will still be part of our species, we can presume that this principle will describe their ethics as well. So the principle applies intergenerationally. We are morally obliged to seek the maximum happiness of all people, present and future.
