Monit Cheung

Teaching Beyond the Deficit Model: Gay and Lesbian Issues Among African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans

Using a keyword search of the literature on minority gay and lesbian issues of the past decade, the authors identify 22 articles pertaining to African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans. Fourteen factors which are frequently discussed in these articles including discrimination issues, oppression, assimilation, rejection, and social support are summarized to address the common experiences among these three groups and unique factors affecting each of them. The selected literature focuses heavily on the deficit aspects and seldom identifies the strengths of these cultures.

Asian Male Domestic Violence Victims: Services Exclusive for Men

The main reasons abused men do not seek social services include their strong endorsement of social/cultural values and avoidance of gender role conflict. Through internet-based service connections, we did not find sources in Asia, Australia, or New Zealand that advertised programs exclusively for male victims of domestic violence (DV). Nine social services in Hong Kong and Singapore describe their work with men in DV situations, but the main focus is “men as perpetrators.” Targeting men as victims, 32 sources in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom describe services designed especially for male DV victims. Findings demonstrate that services for male victims must address such factors as secretiveness, cultural values, masculine identity, tolerance, shame, and loss of face.

Asian Indians and depressive symptoms: Reframing mental health help-seeking behavior

Survey results from 96 Asian Indians in the USA found that those having depressive symptoms were more likely to have experienced social, family or relationship issues. Logistic regression analysis indicated three significant predictors: 1) individuals with anxiety problems were 11.34 times more likely to have depressive symptoms; 2) each unit increase in the score for family or relationship issues increased the likelihood of depression by 3.74 times; and 3) individuals currently employed were 90.9 percent less likely to have depressive symptoms. Reframing mental health symptoms as reactions to family/social issues will help Asian Indians step forward to seek professional help.

Integration of Personal/Professional Self (IPPS) through Reflective/Experiential Learning.

This mixed-method in vivo exploratory study examines the learning strategies that prepare students for social work practice and shows that these strategies can make a measurable difference. Though many authors have called for self-awareness to promote cultural sensitivity, the concept of the integrated personal/professional self has not previously been defined, operationalized, or formally validated with any instrument. From 1999 to 2004, a total of 24 Title IV-E stipend students explored personal life issues through an individualized “SELF” course. Thematic analyses and t-tests of alumni data showed significant improvement in cognitive and ethical development, burnout reduction, and competency enhancement by participation in SELF.

Vietnamese Americans and Depression: A Health and Mental Health Concern

This study focused on factors contributing to depression and help-seeking preferences among Vietnamese Americans. Survey results from 572 Vietnamese Americans showed depression prevalence at 30.2%. Those with depressive symptoms tended to be female, unmarried, unemployed, experiencing family relationship concerns, health issues, or income losses. Seeking help from mental health professionals was the least preferred treatment. Logistic regression analysis predicted that each unit increase in physical health concerns on a four-point scale raised the likelihood of Vietnamese Americans having depressive symptoms by 67.3%. This study provides evidence-based data to support the use of culturally relevant treatment that is integrated with health-focused family services and religious consultation.

A Spiritual Framework in Incest Survivors Treatment

ABSTRACT Through an examination of recent incest treatment development, this article emphasizes the theoretical concept of integration within the treatment process for female adult incest survivors. Spirituality as a therapeutic foundation is discussed with examples of therapeutic techniques. A case study illustrates the psycho-spiritual process of treating a 29-year-old female incest survivor and describes how self-integration has helped this client heal from trauma and change her worldview. Significant outcomes of treatment include the clients gaining of self-awareness and freeing herself from emotional blindness. The recommended practice framework includes a three-step healing process of building alliance with the client in a safe environment, disputing faulty religious assumptions in a learning process, and affirming the needs for reconnection and continuous spiritual support.

Research-Practice Integration in Real Practice Settings: Issues and Suggestions.

At the National Bridging the Research and Practice Gap Symposium to discuss evidence-based practice (EBP) in social work, 150 participants attended five breakout groups to address real practice setting applications. These participants from social work academia and practice communities addressed issues and looked for solutions to promote research–practice integration. Their discussions of EBP implementation issues identified five areas of focus, including the urgent need to (1) provide training, (2) design interventions based on developmental and cultural competence, (3) plan research-informed strategies with an effective infrastructure, (4) initiate research–practice integration in the process of developing social work interventions, and (5) prepare future practitioners and educators to begin collaborative work. Their recommendations focused on people-oriented, skills-based preparations, such as the provision of consumer-oriented EBP information, intervention applications and observations, development of formal training programs to connect academia to field practice, and a planning process to develop competence-based EBP curricula and practice bases.

Assessing the Relative Importance of the Child Sexual Abuse Interview Protocol Items to Assist Child Victims in Abuse Disclosure

This study identifies (1) the importance of using the Child Sexual Abuse Interview Protocol for multiple disciplines to obtain detailed information of what the alleged child victims say and claim, and (2) the concurrence of multiple professionals about the relevance of items in the protocol in their practice. A survey with 100 items based on the Child Sexual Abuse Interview Protocol was self administered by 36 professionals working at a child advocacy center including administrators, attorneys, child advocates, support persons, physicians, police, psychologists, and social workers. These respondents unanimously felt it was very important for interviewers to complete two specific items during the course of an investigative interview: “showing the interviewer is listening to the child” and “showing patience with the child.” As indicated by the average rating scores, 89 items were perceived between very important and important, and nine items as somewhat important. No item on this scale was rated as doesn’t matter or unimportant. Social workers and police officers did not differ significantly in their ratings of the importance of these items. Both quantitative and qualitative results support four major considerations when using an interview guide: 1) flexibility in opening and closing the interview, 2) professional and appropriate use of the anatomical dolls, 3) assessment of the age and mental state of the child, and 4) determination of the order of questions based on severity of incidents. This study provides data to identify the importance of using a comprehensive interview protocol for multidisciplinary professionals who work with alleged victims of child sexual abuse. The use of these 100 items will enhance the effectiveness of conducting a one-time interview to avoid repeated interviews. This study that was originally aimed at comparing differences among professionals has, in fact, demonstrated the similarities across disciplines, as agreement among various professional groups was substantial. This finding dissolves the myth that multiple disciplines brought forth diverse opinions and instead encourages the “working together” concept of a team.

Promoting Effective Interviewing of Sexually Abused Children: A Pilot Study

Objective: This study is centered on interviewing techniques with alleged child sexual abuse victims who do and do not disclose sexual abuse. Method: Ninety randomly selected videotapes are reviewed, and the interviewing techniques are recorded on a 69-item Child Sexual Abuse Interviewing Skills Instrument. Results: The nondisclosure children are younger and more likely to be males than females. The discriminant analysis of the instrument indicate the use of more “what and how” questions in disclosure cases, whereas more closing questions are used in nondisclosure cases. Conclusions: Interviewers should maintain an attitude that additional information can be obtained from other sources, which will help the interviewer demonstrate patience and understanding, rather than leading the child to disclosure or false allegation.

Hukou system effects on migrant children’s education in China: Learning from past disparities:

Without an urban hukou, or registered residency status, migrant workers in China have experienced an urban–rural cultural divide. Rural workers who migrate to urban areas are socially excluded from the urban mainstream because of hukou national policy and region-specific regulations. In 2014, hukou policy was revised to gradually allow migrant children to receive public education in cities; however, migrants are still challenged by social exclusion and discrimination. This study discusses hukou policy that integrates migrant children into the mainstream educational system and analyzes the social welfare benefits of its policy reforms. It recommends policy to address China’s ‘returned children’ phenomenon.