Carmen F. Salazar

Modeling Mexican Americans’ Educational Expectations: Longitudinal Effects of Variables Across Adolescence

Using a national sample of Mexican Americans, the authors developed structural equation models of the effects of four eighth-grade latent variables on educational expectations assessed 6 years later. Models for Mexican American women and men did not differ from one another. The latent variable, parents’ influences, had a strong positive effect on educational expectations at late adolescence. Parents’ influences dominated the effects of the other latent independent variables, socioeconomic status, eighth-grade achievement test scores, and self-perceptions. The four eighth-grade latent variables explained 41% of the variability in educational expectations at late adolescence. The findings reveal consistencies and inconsistencies with previous research findings and models.

Six Considerations for Social Justice Group Work

This article describes “courageous conversations” in social justice group work and a continuum of action for social justice interventions. It analyzes themes from 20 contributions to 2 consecutive special issues of The Journal for Specialists in Group Work on social justice group work. Implications for future development in group leadership and areas for further exploration are offered.

An Integrative, Empowerment Model for Helping Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth Negotiate the Coming-Out Process

Many lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth find the coming-out process challenging in a predominantly heterosexual and heterosexist society. The authors introduce a new integrative, empowerment model to help counselors assist their clients navigate this sometimes difficult process. LGB adolescents may be faced with rejection from family, peers, religious leaders, doctrines, and even themselves. If counselors are aware of factors that impede as well as contribute to making coming out a positive and empowering experience, they are better prepared to counsel, warn, and discuss with their clients the liabilities and benefits of coming out to those around them.

The Roots of Social Justice in Group Work.

This article revisits the history of group work, highlighting elements of empowerment and advocacy in the work of some key figures, and noting events and movements that nourished group works social justice roots.