Reviews
The following are reviews for Immigrant and Refugee Families: Global Perspectives on Displacement and Resettlement Experiences:
This is a powerful, positive, and very well conceptualized and written book. It includes a plethora of theory, research and practice-related information. The book’s systemic framework is unique in that it allows us to understand these issues within the context of relationships. I want to congratulate the editors and authors for creating such strongly affirming content dedicated to the well-being of refugees and immigrants. It is especially refreshing and timely to see this book address the above from the perspective of social justice. The format of the book is ideal for the goals of the editors, and for the communities that they wish to reach. I have no doubt that the book will enjoy a wide range of readership.
Mudita Rastogi, Ph.D.
Aspire Consulting and Therapy, LLC
http://Aspire-CT.com
Searing political conflict, dire poverty and globalization forces are propelling families from many parts of the world to migrate and seek refuge more than ever before. This tremendous influx of immigrants and refugees families challenges social and health services in the U.S. to obtain current information, conduct new research and create new service programs.
This timely book is an extraordinarily useful compendium of crucial knowledge and multiple competencies for working with immigrant and refugee populations. By focusing incisively and compassionately on the internal reorganization and the external adaptation of families, this book expands the individual lens by offering a crucial multilevel systems orientation. This perspective is necessary to create ecologically sound prevention and intervention that can help restore a sense of life coherence and help heal the deep wounds inflicted by home displacement for individuals, families and communities. The audiences that will profit from studying and consulting this rich book include those working on new theories, research or community and clinical practice in mental health, trauma studies, immigration policy, substance abuse and domestic violence, human rights, immigration policy and legal aspects faced by immigrant and refugee populations in the U.S. One wonders if immigrant and refugee themselves, their employers, teachers, counselors or health care providers might also be able to use this publication as a resource. The lucid, easily accessible and jargon free writing covers conceptual approaches to treatment and multiple avenues for intervention. Each subject is covered with accurate and unbiased current topic content, with the advantage of future online updates in an area of rapidly changing information where many writings become quickly outdated. Each chapter is organized in consistent categories, ending with helpful links, a conclusion, discussion questions and poignant illustrations of cases from Mexico and Central America, Hmong, Congo, Laos, Somalia and others.
Without underestimating the challenges and risks of uprooting and resettlement while having been traumatized by physical and emotional violence, the authors also portray the hopeful perseverance and resilience demonstrated by many immigrants and refugees families in the face of loss, grieving and adversity. Honoring the strengths of the human spirit counteracts deficit -based views of immigrants and refugees and calls attention to culture-specific values as resources and social justice as an ethical imperative.
Celia Jaes Falicov, Ph.D.
Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health
University of California, San Diego
