Social Services in Latino Communities: Research and Strategies

MELVIN DELGADO'S RECENT BOOK, Social Services in Latino Communities: Research and Strategies, is a groundbreaking piece of work designed to enable professionals involved with Latino populations to develop an indepth understanding and awareness of the special culture specific needs of this group. The rapid growth of this population and the expansion of Hispanic groups across the United States is a recognized reality requiring careful attention from social service providers. Delgado provides a comprehensive conceptual framework to juxtapose the various dimensions that need consideration in designing services. Moreover, the author is careful to point out the danger of lumping Latinos as a single group and discusses with considerable sensitivity the between-group differences that must be taken into account in service delivery.

The book stresses the need for a "strengths" perspective, rather than the prevalent pathology model social work has unfortunately borrowed from medicine. Delgado provides many examples from both research and practice of the strengths-oriented intervention focus and illustrates how this resilient assessment strategy can be utilized in accommodating to the group support networks, the community-based assets/capacity approach, and the apparent cultural norms that undergrid the structure of Latino families and communities. The book skillfully unfolds the rationale for this conceptual approach that relies heavily on the association between cultural identity and pride -- individual family and community resiliency (selfesteem and empowerment). Thus, the book abounds with a health-oriented, skills, acquisition and asset/capacitybuilding service approach. The reader is greeted with a buoyancy and excitement of discovery as the human potential through social services in Latino community unfolds to scrutiny.

Structurally, the book is well organized, with the first part devoted to empirical investigations and the remainder of the book spent applying the research findings to practice interventions and policy formulation. Throughout the book runs the theme that centralizes the role of culture in practice and policy.

This book is a very good representation of the spread of Latino groups across the country. It not only provides an understanding of the Latino world view from the position of the different regions, but it speaks to the subtle differences among the ethnic subgroups and the needs of the various members. The reader emerges with a sense of beginning adequacy in regard to work with Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, and Central and South Americans, and Latinos from the islands in the neighboring region of the United States.

This book is highly desirable as a preparatory text for any social worker/practitioner who has a commitment to Latino populations in the United States.

Nazneen S. Mayadas Professor of Social Work The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX

Copyright Family Service America Mar/Apr 1999
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