Working with Hispanic Families During the Perinatal Period and Early Childhood

Abstract

This chapter discusses clinicians working with families in the United States with clients who identify themselves as Hispanic, Latinos/Latinx, or from Latin America. The chapter focuses primarily on the experience of immigrants and working with young children, men, and women in the perinatal period. The chapter emphasizes the difficulties faced by undocumented immigrants, the process of migration, or seeking refugee or asylum status. These families experience numerous stressors such as “living underground,” in fear of the police of immigration authorities, the experience of deportation, fragmentation of the family, and chronic insecurity. The children and families encounter difficulties with access to clinical care and mistrust of health facilities and official authorities. As their children grow up in the new country, there may be a feeling of alienation between the beliefs and values of the parents and those of their children. This may extend even to a language barrier between parents who speak mostly Spanish and children whose primary language becomes English. There may be a cultural clash between the traditional practices in families from Latin America and the recommendations endorsed by pediatric and nursing personnel in hospital settings. Parents may feel that their practices are devalued and seen as backward or ignorant.