The Just Practice Framework applied to immigration in the Wetback documentary

Immigration and Social Justice from a Macro Social Work Perspective

Immigration and Social Justice/Macro Social Work

Tenets of Just Practice Framework in regards to the film Wetback and the Catholic Safe House worker's perspective

The Just Practice Framework is a structure and context of social work that is centered on five tenets which are power, possibility, context, meaning and power. These five canons encompass five questions. First off, in what manner do the relations and structure form and outline the lives of people and the practice of social work? Secondly, in what way do we give meaning to the familiarities and circumstances that form our lives? Thirdly, in what context do these circumstances and familiarities take place? Lastly, in what manner may a past perspective assist us understand the ways in which struggles over meaning and power have turned out to be, and better value the human significances of those struggles? We shall closely look into each of these tenets with regards to Wetback Documentary.

These five tenets of Just Practice Framework will be investigated in the documentary film Wetback and then the theory and practice will be linked through the action of the one of the administrators of a Catholic Safe House through seven core processes. These processes will be engagement, teaching/learning, action, accompaniment, evaluation, critical reflection and lastly celebration.

1.

Meaning: How do individuals give meaning to the experiences and circumstances that outline their lives?

Each person perceives things in their own individual way when giving meaning to an aspect that they realize or listen to. This is every so often inclined by the manner in which they have been individually impacted at a point in time within their lives. Meaning carries consideration to explanatory or revealing developments and to the partial and individual nature of our comprehension and awareness of the social realm. There are numerous aspects that influence the meaning within our lives and hand us the capacity to distinguish dissimilarity. This may consist of beliefs, race, dwelling, gender, status, and sexual alignment (Finn and Jacobson, 2008). In as much as there is the possibility for interpretation, there is also the chance for misinterpretation. Therefore, the search for meaning necessitates a practice of emptying and scrutinizing or observing one's position for both the client as well as the social worker.

As the administrator of a Catholic safe house, I am stimulated and heartened to revisit and separate my own position prior to giving meaning to the immigrants who cross several miles through the desert and try to swim through the Rio Grande. It is important for me to make an attempt to comprehend how these immigrants make sense of their world as I make comparisons to the meanings of my own. I have not experienced poverty or gone through any form of oppression and therefore it would be difficult to make comparisons of suppositions and judgments. In order to have an understanding and significance as to why more and more immigrants are willing to go through such tortuous experiences, I would have to experience such poverty that these immigrants go through and the great desire to obtain the American dream.

2.

Context: In what context do these circumstances and familiarities take place?

According to Fin and Jacobson (2008), context can be described as the setting and set of circumstances as well as situations that encompass and impact certain conditions and state of affairs. Context permits us to perceive further than the palpable or apparent and perceive aspects that may perhaps be overlooked. The lives of the immigrants emanating from Central American can be considered to be a roller-coaster. It appears that their lives in their resident areas are filled with issues that do not come to a halt. Within social work practice, it is apparent that the intertwined and interlinked contexts that bring this about are social, communal, economic and sociopolitical. By taking a look at their background as well as their circumstances, I am able to have a stronger and clearer understanding of what impacts and ways these proceedings and circumstances in their lives. From the time of their youth, these immigrants can be deemed to be products of the social and economic of individuals who have gone through a poor system. Their sense of belonging is not a place that one would want to belong. Difficulties and problems such as high levels of unemployment, poverty, starvation and lack of opportunities in numerous Central African nations make numerous individuals to consider migration as the sole viable choice. The reflection of the vast path that results in the border adjacent to the United States makes it apparent that this border is simply the recent in a sequence of impediments and hurdles that these individuals opt to go through in order to move away from despair. This whole process is recurrent and the individuals still continue to go through these experiences so as to have a better future and life compared to the one that they can have at their home. Despite witnessing the deaths of their fellow friends through falling off tracks and being run over by trains, being eaten alive by animals in the wild, starving to death and drowning while trying to cross Rio Grande, these individuals still endeavor to live the American Dream and living in Canada as well.

3.

Power: In what manner may a past perspective assist us understand the ways in which struggles over meaning and power have turned out to be, and better value the human significances of those struggles?

Power can be classified into different forms. According to Finn (2008), there is "power over, power from within, power with and power to do." This is evident when considering the aspect of power encompassing the lives of the immigrants. As an administrator of a Catholic safe house, I have the perspective that the immigrants experience power over them not just internally but externally as well as they feel oppression on all aspects. For instance, internally, the immigrants feel that they have nothing more to live for as they constantly live in despair. They feel that they would rather die attempting to reach the United States rather than be alive and continue living in Central America. On the other hand, externally, the immigrants feel that poverty, starvation and lack of opportunities have power over them as they consider it not living when they reside in Central America. These powers have caused the immigrants to feel powerless in their circumstance. They deem it to be far big and large for them to fight for the reason that they have no kind of direct control over it. It is particularly due to these power emotions that cause the immigrants to choose to starve, risk being eaten alive, risk drowning or even being run over by trains for the hope of getting to America which they feel they can experience the American dream and have power over their lives.

Possibility

Possibility permits one to perceive and make consideration much further than the past and present to what the future might bear. Each choice or decision that we as individuals make on the path of life provides an opportunity. There is constantly a hope that something might be possible. It is therefore imperative not to give up believing even when times are tough. Sometimes it is easier said than done because it is so much easier and probably more secure to experience known feelings.

The immigrants do have an idea of the possibilities that are out there for them for the reason that they have heard the endless opportunities in the United States and also seen the money that is sent back home by the individuals working in the U.S. And Canada. However, they also do not know what the future holds for them for the reason that they continually take the risk of making the long journey towards the United States not knowing whether they will be alive at the end of the day. In addition, they have faced rejection from the authorities and keep being sent back home. However, in as much as these restrictions might preclude them from making these things probable, it is imperative to enable them realize that they can take it by the ropes and find their way in this world. Anything is conceivable.

Limitations of the framework

There are numerous limitations of the application of the Just Practice framework with regards to the Wetback aspect. There are issues which can be perceived in the application of this framework. To begin with, being the administrator of a Catholic Safe House, I have to admit that it is challenging when making an attempt to offer services to the immigrating populaces. To start with, providing all sorts of services to these individuals requires capital to finance such services. The safe houses function and operate from Catholic Charities and therefore it is not able to cater to all and sundry. We can only manage to cater for a certain a number of immigrants. Another problem that we face is the safety of the workers as well as that of the safe house itself. A Catholic Safe House is a place that offers security and safe harbor for not only immigrants but also individuals who face abuse such as being raped and being beaten. However, it is imperative to note that as much as it offers security, the safe house cannot be deemed to be secure as it is not guarded. Therefore it cannot fully guarantee security for the individuals as there would be a great issue of the safe house was to be attacked.

Another limitation that is faced is the administration of the Safe House. The immigrants who come to the center for safe harbor have got to be taken care of all day and night long each day. Therefore, running and organization of a safe house can be quite the task. This is for the reason that being an administrator, I have to ensure that there are proper staffing levels all throughout the day. I have to ensure that the immigrants who have come in injured such as stab wounds have been taken care of and are safe and secure. There are also other problems faced in the safe house that are difficult to cope with. Instances such as those when individuals come to the safe house when they are traumatized after harassment, rape, abuse and also escape from probable death is usually hard to deal with as it is a mental issue. It is quite hard to get into the mind of an individual and make them feel better or put off their problems.

What from the NASW Code of Ethics informs the practice of the social workers at the Catholic Safe House?

1.

Significance of human relationships

As an administrator of a safe house, it is imperative to take note that association or relation between and amid individuals is an integral aspect for change. It is important to show the immigrants that we are partners in the whole process of assisting. Reinforcing the relationship with the immigrants will augment their welfare as a whole.

2.

Service

The members of the catholic safe house should have the key objective to assist individuals who are in need and to take account of their social problems. We as the members of the safe house should put the needs of the immigrants above our won and offer our professional expertise without any anticipation of pay.

3.

Dignity and worth of the individual

It is important to treat each of the immigrants in a mindful manner irrespective of the differences that can be seen as well as the ethnic and also social differences that arise. We have to be aware of the role that we play of having the responsibility to the immigrants and also to the society as a whole. Therefore we ought to resolve the issue between the immigrants and the society in the greater aspect in a socially responsible manner

4.

Integrity

As a member of the safe house, I have to conduct myself in a trustworthy way. I have top consistently be cognizant of the values, the vision, the mission, the principles and the standards that go along with my profession.

5.

Competence

As a social worker, I should at all times work hard to enhance my professional knowledge and expertise and make application of them in my practice. I should work hard to have a better understanding of my work in relation to the situation of the immigrants (Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers, 1999).

6.

Commitment to clients

As a social worker, I have the ethical responsibility to be committed to the immigrants' needs and wants when they step into the safe house and strive to ensure that I am of assistance with every social need that they have.

How social justice informs and influences the issue

Being an administrator of the safe house, I have to play my role as a social worker. It is imperative to note that social workers contest and advocate against social injustice. The efforts of change socially by us as social workers are centrally fixated on problems such as poverty, unemployment, biasedness as well as other kinds of social injustice. As social workers, e have to gain understanding of the opportunities that we can have as advocates of the immigrants with regards to the public policies instituted with the public issues and social injustices mentioned.

How culture informs and influences the issue

The aspect of culture greatly informs and influences the issue at hand. It is important to first of all understand that the aspect of values and beliefs play a great role as they are different and diverse. For instance, the immigrants have the belief that life can never be better in their home places. They also believe that they have to undergo oppression and injustice. They also value life in the United States more than the lives of their own. Therefore, it is important to bear in mind of these values and beliefs in understanding their jobs. Another aspect is poverty. As an individual in the United States, I have never actually experienced poverty. I have seen poor people but not in the manner in which the immigrants see it this way. They live at times with one dollar every day. Their working here in the United States can have a great impact on development as they are willing to work for minimal pay and in turn are able to send money back to their home country. This is a positive impact on the development of both countries. It is also important to understand the culture of the immigrants in order to gain an understanding towards their behaviors as well.