Using Structural Social Work Theory to Drive Anti-Oppressive Practice With Latino Immigrants

Cailtin L O'Grady,Arturo Carrillo

doi:10.18060/21663

Abstract

Using Structural Social Work Theory to Drive Anti-Oppressive Practice With Latino ImmigrantsArturo CarrilloCaitlin L. O'GradyAbstract: Social work practice with marginalized populations not only requires intervention to address individuals’ immediate service needs, but also requires intervention to address the larger structural context that impacts well-being. Critical theoretical frameworks, such as Structural Social Work (SSW) theory, are essential in helping social workers to develop a comprehensive understanding of the manner in which social systems are intentionally designed to oppress marginalized populations, including immigrant and refugee communities. SSW serves to both understand how society’s structure causes social problems and to identify how these structures must be changed in order to alleviate harm. Focusing specifically on Latino immigrants, this article presents an overview of SSW theory and discusses its relevance to social work practitioners. This SSW framework will then be applied to analyze two U.S. social systems, the labor regulatory and mental health systems, that are integrally connected to Latino immigrant well-being. Finally, drawing from two case examples of research conducted in Chicago, alternative models of practice in the realms of labor and mental health are presented. Findings from these case examples illustrate how social workers can engage in anti-oppressive practice when they implement interventions that promote personal healing while simultaneously challenging oppressive elements of social systems.

Highlights

Structural Social Work TheorySSW, as first postulated by Maurice Moreau in Canada in 1979, was created in reaction to the "medical and disease model" which seeks to work with people in a dependent position, emphasizing change at the individual rather than the sociopolitical level
Social work practice with marginalized populations requires intervention to address individuals’ immediate service needs, and requires intervention to address the larger structural context that impacts well-being
While we recognize the breadth of scholars contributing to the body of critical social work literature, we focus primarily on Mullaly’s (2007) work in our overview due to the fact that Mullaly’s (2007) bridge model of society is central to our subsequent analysis of both the U.S labor regulatory and mental health systems and the presented alternative practice models

Summary

Structural Social Work Theory

SSW, as first postulated by Maurice Moreau in Canada in 1979, was created in reaction to the "medical and disease model" which seeks to work with people in a dependent position, emphasizing change at the individual rather than the sociopolitical level. The following structures are listed in the order of mentions received within the interviews: labor regulatory (governmental regulatory and enforcement agencies, labor unions, labor policy), immigration (lack of immigration reform, threat of deportation), economic (neoliberal capitalism, the fissured workplace, temp staffing agencies, the informal economy), criminal justice (incarceration, lack of rights for ex-offenders), housing (lack of housing assistance, limited affordable housing options), political (established political parties), educational (school system), welfare (social safety net programs), and health care (access to health care) Many of these structural elements were understood through their interconnections, which increase vulnerability to exploitation, and added to contentious relationships of workers often along racial lines. Program participants identified that as they integrated new understandings of themselves and their environments, this growing sense of critical consciousness empowered them to advocate for structural change in their communities

Implications for Social Work Practice

Implications for Social Work Research

Findings

Conclusion