A Stage-of-Migration Framework for Service to Immigrant Populations

Abstract

A MAJOR WAVE of migration to the United States has ecently occurred. Accordingto the U.S. Bureau of the Census ( 1970,1980), the foreign born population increased by 46 per cent between 1970 and 1980. The continued increase in immigrant populations—that is, all foreign migrant populations in the United States—has been highlighted in labor force projections for the 21st century. One report (Johnston & Packer, 1987) stated that immigrants will represent the largest share of the increase in the population and in the work force since World War I. The newcomers, who are diverse in age, language, country of origin, and culture, have been arrivingmainly from Asia, the West Indies, Central America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Their im migration status varies and includes refugees, immigrants, undocumented aliens, entrants, and parolees. The Immigration and Naturalization Ser vice (INS), the federal agency assigned to carry out immigration law and policy, determines the status of aliens. The different statuses carry different en titlements to services. These newcom ers have been seen by service providers in health, mental health, and educa tional organizations; family and children's service settings; and the workplace. Although social work historically has been involved in service to immigrant populations, the professional response to the recent wave of migration has been limited. Social workers in the field have reported a paucity of profes sionally trained personnel capable of understanding the cultures of the new comers, their migration experiences, and the issues they face in the process of adjustment to living in the United States (Drachman & Ryan, 1991). The limited service response is par tially the result of the view that popu lation movements typically are iso Diane Drachman