Wetback and Just Practice Framework

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.

Power in the engagement process Being an individual in a position or status, that of an administrator, I have to be mindful and cognizant as to exactly how my role as a social worker or being part of a Catholic safe house might indicate or signify power to the immigrants. Already being oppressed by individuals in positions of power, the immigrants are already terrified because of the conclusions they have made up in their mind.

The immigrants have been oppressed, beaten up, abused, raped and taken back to where they have come from. The immigrant would have a sense of comfort-ability for the reason that at the back of his or her mind he or she perceives my power as an administrator as an intimidation that brings back a lot of feelings of fear, hurt and fright.

In as much as I perhaps would not have done anything, it is imperative for me to consider their feelings and decompose the power so that I have the capacity to engage with him or her. Sequentially, this might help the immigrants in having an experience and awareness of other kinds of power in the forthcoming periods. Thus, it is important that I create a connection or association with the immigrant right from the start.

As time unfolds, it is imperative to demonstrate to the immigrant that power and spirit are options. The immigrants need to be heartened and invigorated that they can exist through these experiences and come to the realization that death is not a better option and that life can indeed be better. It is imperative that being an administrator, I have to aid the immigrants to make decisions that will impact them in a positive manner. 4.

History: What is historically possible and to move beyond the past and the present to contemplate alternatives for the future. What has been done, what can be done, and what can exist. Each individual has his or her own history and it is through our own personal perceptions and witnessing that these stories are remembered. It is with because of that reason that every historical account is different from one another.

Finn and Jacobson (2008) assert that the facts and actualities of history do not at any point come out wholesome or untainted as they are at all times altered or bent through the mind of the one who is recording. For this reason, it is imperative to comprehend and apprehend the intents and purposes of an individual before we have the capacity to take out their story. I have seen and heard the immigrants tell their accounts.

However, before I can undertake proper social work, I have to discover and search for the probable generations of problems faced by the immigrants and the manners in which they have impacted or affected the individual. Out of this, I can then have the ability to enable them to make changes in their lives and move forward. If the immigrant had been native, would the manner in which their lives turned out become any different? Chances are yes it would. This account is fresh, smeared and blemished with bottomless wounds.

However, it is quite hard to gain an understanding of this kind of pain because I have not been impacted in a direct manner. I can only make assumptions. A stranger would make consideration of this aspect and come up with a different conclusion. To convey and provide more socially fitting services, cognizance about and recognition of these mistakes can help social workers to integrate a social impartiality viewpoint into their practice with clients who are not native.

Recreating our personal or individual pasts of mistreatment, disregard, poverty, harassment we are able to associate with a bigger society. In what manner will the world perceive and understand the immigrants' past? How do the immigrants perceive their own history? How does she view her own history? Reconnoitering these queries will offer an individual and public justification of the immigrants' experience. 5. 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.