Being Accountable: Understanding the Daily Injuries of Racism

Jennie Encalada

Editor’s Note: NASW-NYC in partnership with the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, houses the Undoing Racism Internship Project students.  For more on anti-racist social work practice, please click here.

From the major victories of the civil rights movement to the election of a Black president many Americans complacently conclude that we have eliminated racism. They cling to the belief that we live in a post-racial America. People are entitled to their views, but the idea that America is post-racial is problematic for many reasons.  These reasons included that it forecloses discussions of ongoing race and racism and leaves little room to address the subtle ways internalized racial superiority[1] insinuates itself into ordinary interactions every day.

There is no doubt that our country has moved forward. Yet I challenge just how far we have come.  Despite the end of Jim Crow and reduced legal discrimination, racism creeps into our daily life. In fact, the United States is experiencing an epidemic of Institutional Racism in many social institutions evidenced by the disproportionate stop and frisk of Black and Brown men and the growing number of imprisoned Women of Color among many other racial injustices.  It is also the case that the practice of racism had changed over the years from overt acts of violence and exclusion to more covert and obscured acts of marginalization, stereotyping and social hostility.  Even the most progressive people often find they have held onto derogatory ideas about people of color.

Some call these covert and subtle acts racial microaggressions. Racial microaggressions[2], which include microassaults, microinsults, and microinvalidations, convey hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights toward people of color. Embedded in personal interactions, they show up every day in verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentionally or not.

In 2008, William Smith, coined the phrase, “Racial Battle Fatigue” (RBF) to refer to the cumulative effect of being ‘on guard’ and having to finesse responses to insults, both subtle and covert.  RBF is experienced by People of Color as they work in mostly white institutions, where they regularly face prejudice, discrimination and denigrating comments from peers and/or superiors.[3]

We cannot let social work off the hook. The racial microaggressions that contribute to RBF can be experienced and committed by social workers if we do not ensure that we are explicitly discussing the pervasive and insidious nature of institutionalized racism in social work education. They continue to arise in the field given that most graduates, including those working in the mental health area continue to be White and trained primarily in Western European models of service delivery[4]. However, social workers can also play a corrective role by calling out the racial microaggressions they witness in schools or on the job.  This will both reduce the potential psychological harm to People of Color resulting from micro-aggressions and will help us build a less racist and more just society.

The Undoing Racism Internship Project (URIP) supports organizing by social work students seeking a stronger antiracist and anti-oppressive lens in social work education.  URIP has received considerable interest in and support of this work. The Interschool Council on Undoing Racism (ICUR), a URIP project, hosted a lab on February 22^nd entitled: Racial Microaggressions: Real Pain, Invisible Scars. It was facilitated by Alberto Guerrero and Andrew Lawton.  Some 46 social work students from 4 of the 9 NYC graduate programs attended and role-played scenarios showing how racial microaggressions manifest in common interactions. Most importantly, participants left with concrete skills and information about strategies that students of color and white allies can use when working toward “undoing” racism. The strategies include naming microaggressions in the classroom, field placements, and in their lives. This and other ICUR workshops prepare social work students with the knowledge and tools they need as new and emerging professionals to be the true change agents that the profession calls for.  However, there is so much more work to be done.  I invite NYC area Schools of Social Work to assume even greater leadership to advance racial, social and economic justice in America NOW.

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[1] People Institute for Survival and Beyond defines Internalized Racial Superiority (IRS), as The acceptance of and acting out of a superior definition is rooted in the historical designation of one’s race. Over many generations, this process of empowerment and access expresses itself as unearned privileges, access to institutional power and invisible advantages based upon race.

[2] Wing Sue, et al, (2007), “Racial Micro-Aggressions in Everyday Life: Implications for Clinical Practice, “ American Psychologist, Vol. 62 No. 4.

[3] Hernandez, A. V. (2013). Christopher Dorner and Racial Battle Fatigue. The Huffington Post. New York.

[4] Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2003). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (4th ed.). New York: Wiley.

*The Interschool Council on Undoing Racism (ICUR) is a project of URIP that began in 2008. ICUR supplies foundational community organizing skills to students from the NYC schools through Skill Labs and Theory Labs.  Community Organizing skills are essential to building and sustaining the movement to undo racism. ICUR provides a space for all anti-racist organizing groups, at each of the individual schools, to report on their organizing work, suggest ways others can support, and to build across institutional lines. Finally, ICUR organizes events for anti-racism organizers/supporters to meet and socialize in order to create cohesion between students involved in the movement to transform social work education.

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Jennie Encalada is a second year community-organizing student at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.  Jennie is a current intern with the Undoing Racism Internship Project (URIP) and is dedicated to bringing awareness to racism and the need for an institutional racism-lens in the social work curriculum beginning with NY social work programs.  She is Latina with family roots in Colombia and Ecuador.  To learn more about URIP or ICUR please email Jennie at jennie.encalada@gmail.com.

Newtown Tragedy: Recommendations for Coping with the Psychological Aftermath

Anne Conway

Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared in the news feed of the Columbia University School of Social Work site.  For a listing of resources around working with your clients or family around trauma, please click here.

Have you found yourself glued to the television watching updates on the Newtown shooting and aftermath? Are you having trouble sleeping and finding yourself overwhelmed by the idea of sending your child to school? Is your child is asking you questions about the tragedy to which you just don’t know how to respond? Is your child frightened to go to school? Do you feel as if your anxiety level has increased significantly since the shooting occurred?

Reactions such as these can be quite common following a tragedy even when we are physically distant from the site of a disaster or an attack. They reflect what is known as “distant trauma.” For example, research shows that individuals across the nation experienced stress-related symptoms after the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Such symptoms generally resolve very quickly as children and adults are quite resilient.

Some individuals, however, may react with greater stress than others. For example, individuals with mental health problems, and those who have experienced trauma in the past, may experience higher levels of stress. It is important for individuals, family members, teachers, and social workers to watch for signs that may reflect heightened stress or problems with coping.

Often, heightened stress levels are observed in difficulties or changes in sleeping patterns. In a study conducted by our research group here at Columbia and at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, we found that even young toddlers 500 miles away from the site of the 9/11 attacks experienced higher levels of sleep problems and crying than they manifested at an earlier age. In adults and even young children, difficulties or changes in sleep can suggest the presence of stress. Young children may also cry more, separate more reluctantly from parents, or not want to go to school. Parents may have trouble letting their children go off to school or separating from their children.

In the wake of the tragedy at the Sandyhook Elementary School, here are some steps you can take that should make a positive difference to yourself, your children or others who are feeling especially vulnerable:

1.  Shut off the TV. With a strong desire to follow each detail, some may have difficulty turning away from the TV. Often people feel compelled to follow many details because it may make them feel in control as they search for signs that they are now safe. Yet, watching excessive TV coverage of traumatic events often has the opposite effect: it makes people feel more stressed, and in some cases it retraumatizes them. Thus it is important to minimize exposure to traumatic images.* To reduce feelings of helplessness, one can channel concerns into empowering, positive steps and begin talking with neighbors and friends about how to address this problem that faces our communities.

*Although online coverage of the Olympic games provided “spoiler alerts,” there are currently no warnings for online articles regarding upsetting content such as details about the shootings, pictures of the young victims, etc.  Without such warnings, it can be difficult to reduce one’s exposure and children’s exposure to the graphic details of the traumatic events on online sources. Under these circumstances, one could elect to follow only media outlets and online newspapers that provide such warnings or tend not to provide graphic details.

2.  Practice healthy sleep behaviors. For example, before bedtime, it is important to wind-down to get ready for bed. Watching stressful, upsetting images of trauma before bed can be overstimulating and distressing, and can interfere with the ability to fall asleep or get a restful night sleep. It is important to stop following coverage of the story for at least one to two hours before bedtime. Taking a bath or reading a book can help prevent overstimulation and stress before bedtime.

3. Pay special attention to young children and beware of signs of stress. One-, two- or three-year-olds can be very perceptive and pick up when their parents are in distress, without even knowing what has occurred. They just know that their parent is upset. It is important to be aware of this and try to manage your own reactions to distressing events.

4. Be attentive to children’s needs and be willing to talk with them about the event if they have questions. If children ask you about the event, it is first important to find out what they know about the event. Listen to your children and the concerns they have. Letting them express their emotions is important. (They may also want to do this through drawing or play.) Reassuring them that they are safe is also important.

In sum, parents should monitor their children to see if they are crying more than usual or having difficulties sleeping—and if it does not resolve, contact their pediatrician or other health professional.

Likewise, school social workers, teachers, and other school professionals can help by reassuring children and parents that they are safe in the school. Letting parents know that you have an emergency plan in place, and allowing them the opportunity to contact you with any questions they may have, will signal your awareness of their needs and the fact that you regard the safety of their child and other students as paramount.

Mental health professionals and youth workers should also be aware that some of their clients may have higher stress levels following traumatic events such as mass violence, disasters, and terrorist attacks. Indeed, the stress of such events may be associated with an increase in symptoms or possibly precipitate a relapse of a pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma. Helping those who are distressed by allowing them to express their emotions, encouraging them to reduce or eliminate media exposure of traumatic events, engage in healthy behaviors such as physical activity and social connections with others, and maintain healthy sleep patterns should hasten their recovery.

To reiterate, although stress-related symptoms can be experienced even in those far away from the site of an attack, adults and children are very resilient, and most recover very quickly. In a few cases, however, adults or children may react with high levels of stress and have difficulties coping. It is, therefore, important for caregivers to be aware and monitor difficult reactions to traumatic events that they or their children may experience. These simple steps may help people cope.

Recommended Resources:

A number of resources are available to provide additional information to families and professionals. Some of these include:

• The Zero to Three site offers resources for young children useful for parents, teachers, and others following traumatic events.
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers resources for parents, caregivers, teachers following traumatic events.
• The National Association of Social Workers provides useful information for parents, teachers, and professionals following traumatic events.

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Anne Conway is an assistant professor of social work at the Columbia University School of Social Work who conducts research on emotional and cognitive development and mental health in children and youth. Dr. Conway and her colleagues have recently completed a study documenting the effects of 9/11 on young toddlers and their parents.

How do you See me? A Poem

Gwen Butler, LCSW

Editor’s Note: Gwen Butler is the 1st Vice President of the NASW-NYC Chapter.  She presented us with this poem at the 2012 Board of Directors Retreat, which resonated deeply for everyone in the room.  We wanted to use our blog as a platform to share this poem with you all.  Please let us know what you think in the comments section below!

How do you See me?

How do you See me, when you look at me?
With my Dark Skin Latin Curl, Africana Sass
Educated, Well-dressed, and yes a little Class
Full of life, Full of love, Full of Pizzazz

But what if I was Three Shades Darker
With Locks for Hair and a Fist on my Shirt
What if I was Three Shades Lighter
With Waves for Hair and a Perfect Pencil Skirt

Tell me… What if when I spoke
My accent is what you heard
Or when I passed you in the hallway
You smelled the herbs that I burn

If I came to you in marital distress
And Feeling hopelessly bound
Then I introduced to you my wife…yes, my Lesbian wife
Would you assume I’m hell-bound?

If I was an 18 year old male
With my pants hanging low
Would you automatically hide your bag
And slow the flow of resources I might need to go….forward

What if I do not speak English
But tried really hard with what I know
Would you raise your voice 10 decibels higher
I’m not deaf, or dumb, you know…

How about if you see me struggling to walk on 42nd Street
So many people, so many cars, so many sounds, so many feet
I’m blind, I need my stick to walk
Excuse me, I didn’t know I was in your way

Or how about if I’m trying to catch that bus too…
I got a job, finally!
Does my wheelchair offend you?

If I stood before you, with an unshowered smell
Because I live in a shelter, more like a ‘hell’
Would you meet your eyes with mine?
Nope, not asking for a dime…
Just looking for some time, a moment to call mine

What if I came to see you, with all my five young children
Yeah, they’re loud and rambunctious
They’re young children what do you expect?
I couldn’t find a sitter
But I want to keep my appointment, trying to be responsible
In this already unforgiving world

Ok, wait… Let’s change the scenery

I’m your new supervisee, so excited to work
But please don’t send me into that room with him
He smells of dirt!

Help me Supervisor!
This paperwork is Nuts!
How can I manage all of this?
And I feel like I’m working for PeaNuts!

Please don’t let me go…
I really need this job
I entered this field because I truly love it
But passing the exam has been hard!
I know you think I’m young
It’s true, I do have a lot to learn
But listen to me… this technology thing
Is something you need to learn

I don’t work on the Sabbath
It’s my day of rest
Yours may come tomorrow
I will honor it too, at best

Social Worker, this is a call
to the inner most parts of YOU
A time to reflect and examine
The way in which you view
The people around you
The thoughts you have
The feelings you have
And the way it informs YOU

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Gwen Butler is a NYS Licensed Clinical Social Worker currently in Private Practice, both in Manhattan and Forest Hills, Queens.  Gwen is also the First Vice President on the Board of the National Association of Social Workers, NYC Chapter where she serves on the Executive Committee.  She is also Chair of the Diversity Plan.  Additionally, Gwen serves in her community as the President of the Queens / Long Island Chapter of Mocha Moms, Inc., a National Organization in support of Mothers of Color.  More information about Gwen Butler and her practice can be found at www.gwenbutler.com 

An Under Recognized Trauma: Sibling Abuse

Amy Meyers, PhD, LCSW

Editor’s Note:  The author responded to our invitation for guest blogging for NASW-NYC Connections.  If you are interested in submitting a piece, please email us.

Sibling abuse is an understudied phenomenon that continues to receive little attention. Curiously, intake and psychosocial assessments in social service and mental health agencies continue to focus on the quality of parent-child relationships. Assessment regarding the nature and quality of sibling relationships is either neglected or minimized.

A widespread societal belief holds that most siblings have conflicts and fights while growing up, and that these conflicts are normal. This may be. However, sibling abuse is NOT sibling rivalry! There are distinct differences between normative sibling rivalry and sibling abuse. With sibling rivalry, children have an equal opportunity for advantage or disadvantage. Sometimes, one sibling is hurtful to another; and another time the other sibling is hurtful. Sibling abuse indicates pervasive, ongoing damaging behavior from one sibling to another in which there is intent to harm by the abusive sibling and an induced sense of fear, shame, and hopelessness in the victim. While sibling rivalry fosters skills of communication, negotiation, and competition, sibling abuse does not warrant any positive outcomes.

It is interesting that as a society we have rallied to the cause of bullying: through media, anti-bullying legislation, and outraged parents. I would posit that bullying could be termed peer abuse. In much the same way that we distinguish peer teasing from bullying, we need to distinguish sibling rivalry or sibling aggression from sibling abuse. There are parallels between peer teasing and sibling rivalry and between bullying and sibling abuse. And, thankfully, serious measures have been taken to protect children from peers in the realm of bullying. As a society we have acknowledged the devastating influence a child can have on another child – physically or emotionally. We also need to pay attention to the devastating implications of siblings who abuse siblings.

A child who presents with academic issues, behavioral issues, a depressive disorder, or anxiety disorder may be the target of sibling abuse.  Practitioners who are aware of the influence of sibling abuse are able to recognize how to help each sibling involved in the abusive relationship, the family system, or the adult who has this traumatic past. Sibling abuse is not only a psychological issue for the victim, but also representative of a dysfunctional family system in which the dyadic relationship or the behavior of the perpetrator is a symptom of greater pathology.

Additionally, failure to assess the nature and quality of sibling relationships or the developmental history of an adult client can have profound effects on the survivor. Consider how this experience may influence one’s sense of self, mood, career, and relationships.

Most of us have siblings. Yet I often wonder how many of us consider the influence of those relationships on our current interpersonal relatedness and general functioning. At workshops where I have trained staff on sibling abuse assessment, I invite attendees to consider many facets of their own current and historical relationship with their sibling(s).  Most acknowledge that this is the first time they have reflected on this.  Yet, they are well-aware of the impact a parent(s) has had on his/her own development. Giving consideration to our own dynamics, countertransference, transference, and projections is a fundamental aspect of practice.  Be curious about your own experience with a sibling – and be curious about those you treat.

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Amy Meyers, PhD, LCSW is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at The College of New Rochelle. She has consulted for the Administration of Children’s Services and has provided trainings on sibling abuse assessment and intervention to the Department of Social Services and staff at mental health agencies in NYC where she also maintains a private practice.

The Transgenerational Transmission of Primary Trauma in Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer

Laura Royse, LCSW

Editor’s Note:  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we hope that you find this post helpful in your work with clients experiencing trauma related to a diagnosis.  The author responded to our call for guest blogging.  If you are interested in guest blogging, please email us.

According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2.3 million adult women in the U.S. are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer based on family history¹.  Breast and ovarian cancer that runs in families with a mutation in their BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene is considered hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC).  Women with a BRCA mutation have a significantly higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer compared to the general population.  Men who carry a BRCA mutation have an increased risk of developing breast and prostate cancers².  Both women and men have an elevated risk for pancreatic cancer and melanoma (BRCA2).  Women with BRCA mutations must decide, sometimes quickly depending upon age, whether to proceed with frequent pre-screenings or pursue a prophylactic mastectomy and/or oophorectomy in order to significantly reduce their risk of cancer.

Psychosocial Implications

The psychosocial impact of HBOC is vast.  Resilience to trauma depends heavily on the family’s history of loss, premorbid and comorbid functioning, and existing support systems.  Nevertheless, high functioning people may experience disturbances in mood and anxiety as they learn to integrate their genetic history, present, and future.

HBOC threads itself throughout generations of families. Many families affected by HBOC have one or more members who died from breast and/or ovarian cancer and leave a legacy of trauma for future generations.  For example, a young mother (20-40 years old) with a known BRCA mutation who develops cancer may transmit her anxiety about her own cancer to her children.  This woman may have to cope with issues such as intensive treatment, surgery, changes in body image, concern for a recurrence of cancer and new cancer diagnoses, and possibly mortality.  These issues may last for years and are particularly significant in families with young children.  If a child inherits the BRCA mutation, she must not only reconcile the secondary trauma passed on by her mother, but potential primary traumas of her own as she copes with complex decisions about how to manage her risk. This inherited anxiety may also play a role in her defense against seeking genetic testing.

Women with BRCA mutations may re-experience feelings associated with the loss of family members, such as mild to severe anxiety, depression, isolation, flashbacks, somatization, and/or hypervigilence.  These symptoms may occur at the time of testing positive for a mutation, during the time leading to a prophylactic surgery, upon learning and treatment of a cancer diagnosis, and when a new family member (especially a close relative) is diagnosed with cancer or tests positive for a mutation, all of which may be experienced as new traumas compounded by her family history.  In addition, young women with BRCA mutations often feel forced to make advanced decisions for her life stage, particularly regarding family planning.  Mastectomy and reconstruction may cause distortions in self-body image and negatively affect sexual relationships with new partners and spouses.  Parents with BRCA mutations may experience displaced guilt for passing the mutation to their children.  Likewise, family members who do not have the gene mutation often feel a sense of “survivor’s” guilt.  Therefore, discussing family history and potential risk with children may be anxiety-provoking, but not impossible with proper support and guidance.

Treatment Considerations

Clinical social workers in agency and private practice have a unique opportunity to support individuals and families coping HBOC.  When working with this population, clinicians must be mindful of countertransference.   Most people know someone or have a family member who has had cancer.  As such, many clinicians may find it difficult working with a patient who refuses to pursue genetic counseling or prophylactic surgery.  It is imperative to understand a patient’s latent defenses and support their decisions.

If a clinician is working with a patient who has a strong family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, it may be appropriate to suggest a referral to genetic counseling.  A genetic counselor can help your patient assess her risk and determine whether genetic testing is appropriate.  In addition, clinical social workers may refer patients for complimentary support, e.g., hospital-based support groups and Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered.   It is very common for people with HBOC to need to connect with others who are also at high risk.  In some cases, a referral for psychopharmacology is warranted.  Lastly, clinicians who educate themselves on HBOC, including common terms, will be better positioned to facilitate meaningful exploration and empathy with these patients.

People with HBOC must know that they are not alone.  Guiding patients to information and additional support, while lending a safe place to work though this journey, may be the most valuable way for clinical social workers to empower this population.

References:

¹   Genetic risk assessment and BRCA mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility: recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. Sep 6 2005;143(5):355-361.65

²   Cancer.net (2010, February).  Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer:  Overview.  Retrieved February 7, 2012, from http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/ Hereditary+Breast+and+Ovarian+Cancer

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Laura R. Royse, LCSW has been a clinical social worker providing outpatient psychotherapy for the past 7 years.  She is a clinical supervisor for Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens and operates a private practice in Queens.  In addition, Laura has been an outreach coordinator for FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered) in New York City since 2010, where she provides support and information for women and families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

Social Work Values and the Presidency

Gary Parker, MSW

Editor’s Note:  This piece was published in our September/October 2012 issue of our newsletter, Currents.  You can access the full newsletter by clicking here.

The upcoming election boils down to a simple question: Does government get in the way of the well-being of its people thereby creating economic hardship and increased poverty, or should government intervene and provide supports that protect and assist those impacted by poverty? Some may say this is an oversimplification. However, this is the fundamental and ideological question that defines the two political parties and their respective candidates for President of the United States. The voters will decide the answer and it will have a direct impact on social workers across the country.

The social policies and programs that have been implemented starting as far back as the Great Depression are coming under fire by ideologues who believe that the economy has not improved because the government is providing services to poor and working class families. Their proposed solution is to cut those services and reduce the tax rates paid by corporations and the wealthiest of Americans in order to create more jobs and provide everyone the opportunity to prosper and thrive. Furthermore, they argue that social service programs only breed a culture of dependency and their elimination will empower a sense of individual responsibility.

This movement is directly at odds with the social work mission to serve individuals, families and communities in order to ensure that basic needs are met so that all can achieve an improved quality of life. Within the preamble of the NASW Code of Ethics, there are six core values identified as rooted in the profession: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. These values are being questioned, challenged and in some cases contradicted by conservative legislators. I’m not questioning the competence of those who want to cut taxes for the rich and eliminate social services and public sector jobs. I have no doubt they will be very good with a budgetary knife.

However, to advocate that addressing issues of poverty is not the responsibility of government, but a secondary by-product of successful corporations fails to recognize the dignity and worth of a person. Further, health and mental health services should not be reserved to those who can afford them. Publicly funded community health centers facilitate positive human interactions and dignify the importance of human relationships.

Most social workers are called to the profession by a deep rooted belief in social justice and a determination to elevate service to people in need. With increasing case loads and fewer resources, it is easy to set aside a coordinated effort for advocacy and change while we work to address immediate needs. However, if we let this trend to abandon the poor continue, we are doing our clients and profession a huge disservice. Further reductions in the publically funded safety net will result in enormous numbers of individuals, families and communities becoming impoverished and falling victim to the far too often violent consequences that accompany financial hardship.

This election is going to be decided by a small number of swing voters who may not be aware of the issues. Those voters might be your friends, families, colleagues and neighbors. Share with others your values and belief that society has a responsibility to respond directly to the privations created by oppressive and discriminating social, economic and political systems. Every vote is going to count, particularly given the highly organized efforts to suppress the vote of mostly low income communities of color.

Regardless of the outcome of this election, our work to advocate for the most vulnerable will be ongoing. Government run and publicly funded programs, although sometimes flawed, are not the cause of the country’s ills. We must do a better job of demonstrating the successful outcomes of social services. Our best strategy is not well-meaning political ideology lacking substance but policy positions grounded in sound research data that empirically documents our values in vital human service programs across the country.

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Gary Parker is the Deputy Director of New York University’s McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research located within the Silver School of Social Work.  Parker is also an adjunct lecturer at the Silver School teaching community organization and social welfare policy.  He is a graduate of the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.  Previous experience includes positions as district manager for Manhattan Community Board Five and community liaison for New York Assembly Member Deborah J. Glick.  He can be reached at gary.parker@nyu.edu.  

Dreams Deferred

Christiana Best-Cummings, LMSW, PhD

Editor’s Note: Related to this blog posting, you can access the NASW-NYC special issue of Currents ”Focus on Immigrants in New York City” by clicking here.

As the country gears up for one of the most significant political battles -the 2012 presidential election, once again immigration reform has taken the spotlight away from the economy.  While the national landscape has been enthralled with the slow economic recovery which originated with the 2008 financial crisis, the Republican debates brought attention to the immigration issue when Mitt Romney, the leading Republican candidate shared his immigration plan based in part on self-deportation. Recently, in the midst of the presidential campaign, with the national unemployment rate at 8.2 percent and the African American unemployment at 14.4 percent, President Obama shifted the public’s attention once again to the immigration issue by introducing The Deferred Action program.  Giving President Obama the benefit of the doubt, it is important to note that the U.S. Congress has failed to move forward on two very significant immigration legislations this year-The Dream Act and The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  So, with Congress’ failure to pass these two legislations, the devastating economic condition and the high stakes of the Presidential elections, Americans (politicians, immigrants and citizens alike) welcomed the digression.

With that as the backdrop, on June 16^th, 2012, President Obama signed an Executive Order on immigration entitled The Deferred Action Program.  This policy puts a temporary stay (2 years to be exact) on the deportation of young people who through no fault of their own was brought to this country as children by their undocumented parents.  This is a small move in the right direction by the President to address the lack of action by Congress on The Dream Act and at the same time, it is life-changing for the young people, some 800,000 who are directly impacted by this policy, albeit temporary.

 

What is The Deferred Action program/policy?

• If you are undocumented and traveled to the United States before the age of 16;
• If you have attended school, or served in the military;
• If it is determined that you pose no criminal or military threat to the country;
• If you are currently 30 years old or younger.

Then you are eligible for a two year “stopgap” as the president stated. More importantly, you are eligible to work legitimately “on the books” without being deported for two years.  On the other hand, it is also important to note what this program isn’t.

What the Deferred Action Program/policy isn’t:

• It isn’t amnesty or an official pardon;
• It will not provide you with a green card;
• It isn’t a path to citizenship.

To apply[1]for Deferred Action, you will need to meet a number of criteria, including the following:

• Proof of identity;
• Proof of arrival in the United States before age 16;
• Proof of physical presence in the United States on June 15, 2012;
• Proof of continuous residence in the United States for at least 5 years before June 15, 2012;
• Proof of enrollment in school, or proof of graduation from high school, or proof of receipt of a General Equivalency Degree (GED) certificate, or proof of honorable discharge from the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States.[2]

Prior to the Deferred Action program many undocumented immigrants from all over the world lived in fear of deportation which has become an integral part of their everyday life because of the increased number of people being deported today.  These immigrants travel to the United States from countries all over the world.  While Mexico has the largest number of undocumented immigrants -7 million to be exact, which is significant considering that the overall number of undocumented immigrants have been estimated to be 12 million.  The immigrant community and particularly the undocumented immigrant community include people from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, South America, Central America, Canada and the Caribbean.

Regardless of the numbers, or the part of the world you’re from when it comes to being undocumented, you’re forced to live under the radar.  The life of an undocumented immigrant whether child or adult is a secret one.  You’re a member of an underground world built on fear and secrecy.  Your life is filled with trepidations at every turn-job searches, school enrollment and everyday activities that citizens and legal residents take for granted.  You have to be cautious every minute of your life and very afraid of sharing information with everyone around you including your neighbors, employers, friends and at times even your immediate family for fear that one day someone might say the wrong thing to the wrong person or if they get upset or angry with you they will report you to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  Children of undocumented immigrants who are themselves undocumented are particularly anxious.  Their anxiety is heightened due to the stories that are reported in newspapers and the underground network community of raids in the workplace or people calling the Department of Homeland Security on the “undocumented”.  The fear is further exploited by ghastly employers, and those who like bullying or intimidating the vulnerable.  It is also not unusual for American born children of undocumented parents to harbor fear as well.  Oftentimes they are preoccupied with concerns for their parent.  These children often ruminate   “What if when I get home from school today my parents are not home because they are arrested and sent back to their country?”  Nonetheless, the Deferred Action program has brought many young adults temporary relief from living in the underground world of the undocumented although their concerns about their parents continue to be anxiety provoking.

The President’s Deferred Action program has left many people skeptical given the fact that it is a temporary fix to a long-standing issue.  For many in the immigrant community this program is viewed as a small, momentary step with an indeterminate future, while others view it as a meaningful step in the right direction with a hopeful and optimistic future.   Some of the young people that are directly impacted by this program experience it as a tremendous relief because for the first time since arriving in the United States, they can “come out” from the shadows of the underground world and be part of the mainstream American community.  For the next two years they can work, go to school and most of all not live in fear of deportation.  Or can they?

The fear of deportation has become even more eminent in recent years than before because of President Bush’s and Obama’s immigration strategies to address the issue of border control in the Southwestern part of the country.  According to a CNN report on October 18th, 2011, nearly 216, 698 or 55 percent of the people deported in 2010 were convicted of felonies and misdemeanors, which mean a total of over 400,000 people, were deported in 2010. Additionally, with the current draconian stop and frisk policies and practices that many states and cities throughout the U.S. have instituted, these policies and practices have further contributed to the heightened fear many immigrants currently experience. May 12, 2012 New York Times reported that the NYC Police Department stopped and frisked over 203,500 individuals between January and March of 2012, which is up from 183, 326 for the same period from the previous year.  The demographics of the astonishing number of people the NYC Police reported that were stopped, questioned and frisked for the first three months of 2012, 54 percent of them are Black, 33 percent Hispanic, 9 percent white and 3 percent Asian with males making up 93 percent (NY Times, May 12, 2012).  Given these numbers many immigrants who are people of color are especially apprehensive of being stopped not because they have committed a crime but because they are undocumented and can be deported.  Policies such as Secure Communities (shared data base between law enforcement and ICE) as well as having Immigration Control Enforcement (ICE) located in prisons further exasperate the trust and confidence of the immigrant community.

On the other hand, the immigrant community welcomes a policy that holds the tide back, even one that is temporary.  It is perceived as a refreshing transformation on the part of President Obama particularly when he stated “stopping the deportation of young people is the “right thing to do”.  Yet even with the President’s endorsement, many in the immigrant community are not sure if they can trust this program.  Living with fear for long periods of time has led to a “healthy sense of paranoia” among immigrants, not unlike that of other vulnerable people in American society historically (i.e. experimental medical studies such as the Tuskegee experiment). Although immigrants recognize the many benefits of the Deferred Action program for a small number of people in the undocumented immigrant community, given the fact that it is temporary, specifically two years, and there is no promise for a more permanent solution, and given the precarious political climate we live in with Romney clearly stating he will not support The Deferred Action program, as well as Congress’ inability to pass legislations put forth by President Obama, some undocumented immigrants are concern that “coming out” from the shadows can further lead to more harm than good in the future-post 2014.

At the same time for some immigrants (documented and undocumented) the reason for this change in policy and its motivation- political or not, is not so important.  They are grateful for the small steps, hoping it will one day lead to more significant, comprehensive and permanent solutions, such as The Dream Act, which provides a path to citizenship for the same young people that the Deferred Action is trying to help.  Another significant bill that has been pending in congress is the reauthorization of The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  This law was enacted in 1994 and recognizes the menacing and dangerous nature of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and supports comprehensive, effective and cost saving ways of addressing these crimes.  The revised VAWA provides protection for Native American women and same sex relationships.  Consequently, the hesitancy by some immigrants to fully embrace the Deferred Action program emanates from the ambiguous messages the immigrant community have received from the American government based on past and present policies/practices.

It would be remiss of me not to mention a law that is currently in place that moves us forward as a nation on the immigration platform; that law is The Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Act.  This Act is frequently underutilized by social workers in child welfare because many social workers particularly those working in foster care are unfamiliar with it.   SIJS was enacted for children under the age of 21 who are in the child welfare system to provide these children with the opportunity to become permanent residents. The reauthorization of this law included protection from human trafficking.  More information on this law can be retrieved from the Office of Children and Family Services website, specifically (11-OCFS-ADM-01, 2/7/11).

If the recent Supreme Court split decision on Arizona’s immigration law SB 1070, is an indication of what the future holds, the legal resolution to the immigration problems facing this country, based on current trends signify a long tumultuous and at times ambiguous road ahead for immigrants and Americans alike.

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[1] Application for the Deferred Action program begins August 15, 2012. For more information  regarding the Deferred Action application process and criteria go to www.uscis.gov.

[2] For further information on the Deferred Action program contact -The New York Immigration Coalition at 137-139 West 25th Street-12th Floor; New York, NY 10001; (212) 627-2227. Or visit their website www.thenyic.org.

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Christiana Best-Cummings, LMSW, Ph. D., is a manager at NYC Administration for Children Services and has over 25 years of experience in public and private child welfare.

As an immigrant, Dr. Cummings is devoted to advocating and working on behalf of immigrant families.  Her graduate work focused on the exploration of Transnational Parenting for African Caribbean women from the English-Speaking Caribbean.  This body of work was complied in a book entitled: The Long Goodbye:  Challenges of Transnational Parenting, which was published in 2009. It details Dr. Cummings’ research and analysis of the impact of transnational parenting on both children and parents.

Dr. Cummings particularly enjoys staff development and teaching. She has worked as an adjunct professor for several years at Metropolitan College; currently, she teaches a class on the immigrant experience at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in which she highlights the impact of race, gender and the economy on various immigrant group experiences in this country.

Dr. Cummings has also been in the forefront of the exploration of the impact of race and disproportionality in child welfare. She is the co-chair of the Disproportionality in Child Welfare which is a subcommittee of the New York City Social Work Consortium.  This committee has facilitated symposiums on racial dispropotionality and disparity for MSW students that have been held at various Schools of Social Work.   She is also a member of the ACS Task Force on Racial Equity and Cultural Diversity.