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ABSTRACT
This paper presents a case study of the development of a program in a large U.S. School of Social Work to train social work students to work with Latina/o populations entitled ‘Latino/a Initiatives for Service, Training, and Assessment’ (LISTA). Using a case study methodology, this work fills a current gap in the literature as it examines the programmatic and curricular dynamics associated with such an effort. The methods section details LISTA’s planning process and early implementation. This includes the demographic, theoretical, and professional context of the program along with the stages of curricular development. The results section examines LISTA’s current curriculum, including three courses, field placements and study abroad program, as well as its assessment processes. It further examines issues and challenges related to developing a new curricular emphasis in a graduate program, including funding, recruitment, and securing field placements. The discussion section provides a set of recommendations, including the institutionalization of mechanisms for community feedback and the recruitment of ethnic minority students and faculty. LISTA serves as a potential model for recruiting and training social workers to serve diverse ethnic minority populations.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1. The term ‘race’ is increasingly recognized among scholars as a socially constructed category that has contributed to historical inequalities (Smedley & Smedley, Citation2005). Nonetheless it remains in use as a major demographic identifier by the U.S. government, scholars and communities alike. We employ it in this paper while recognizing its limitations in regards to the U.S. Latino community and the larger U.S context.
2. In the U.S., individuals with a blended Indian and European ancestry may self-define as ‘mestizo.’
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Raymond Sanchez Mayers
Dr. Raymond Sanchez Mayersis an Associate Professor at the School of Social Work and an affiliated faculty member of the Department of Latino and Hispanic Caribbean Studies, Rutgers University. Dr. Sanchez Mayers' research interests include financial management in nonprofits, administrative issues, Hispanic issues, geographic information systems and geospatial statistics.
Laura Cuesta
Dr. Laura Cuesta is an Assistant Professor at the Rutgers University School of Social Work. Her research examines the determinants and consequences of family instability and family complexity in Latin America and the role of social policies on the well-being of disadvantaged families and children in Latin America and the United States.
Rebecca Davis
Dr. Rebecca Davis is Associate Professor for Professional Practice and Director of the Office of Global Programs, Rutgers university School of Social Work. Her research focuses on social work education and child protection system strengthening in Eastern Europe and Sub Saharan Africa. She is a former Fulbright Scholar and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Laura Curran
Dr. Laura Curran is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Rutgers University School of Social Work. Her research addresses social welfare history and social policies supporting low income mothers and families. Her more recent work examines various aspects of social work education.