Discussion: Gaps in the Life Model

Piedra and Engstrom (2009) noted how the life model “remains general and unspecific regarding factors that affect immigrant families” (p. 272). Recall that there will never be one theory or a model that can fully explain a phenomenon or lay out all the steps and procedures when working with complex issues that clients present to social workers. Recognizing this, Piedra and Engstrom selected another theory in the immigration literature—segmented assimilation theory. They identified concepts from segmented assimilation theory to “fill in” the gaps that the life model does not address.

In this Discussion, you examine gaps in the life model by applying it to your field experience.

To prepare:

• Review the life model.
• Review this article in the Learning Resources: Piedra, L. M., & Engstrom, D. W. (2009). Segmented assimilation theory and the life model: An integrated approach to understanding immigrants and their children. Social Work, 54(3), 270–277. http://dx.doi.org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/sw/54.3.2… (Article is in attachments)

By Day 3

Post:

Using an example from your fieldwork experience and a diverse population you encountered at the agency (for example, in Piedra and Engstrom’s article, it was immigrant families), respond to the following:

• Identify and describe the diverse population and the unique characteristics and/or the distinctive needs of the population in 3 to 4 brief sentences.
• Explain how the life model can be applied for the population.
• Explain where the gaps are in applying the life model for this population.
• When looking at the gaps, explain which theory might be helpful in filling the gaps of the life model when working with this population.

By Day 5

Respond to two colleagues:

• Identify other potential gaps in the life model as applied to the population your colleague identified.
• Offer another potential theory for filling the gaps of the life model when working with the population identified.

Colleague 1: Kelly

• Identify and describe the diverse population and the unique characteristics and/or the distinctive needs of the population in 3 to 4 brief sentences.

While interning at a hospital in Indiana, as I was completing my BSW degree, I had the privilege of working with an immigrant family from South Africa. This family consisted of four children, a mother, father and a grandmother. Only the children spoke any English. The language issue created a great barrier.

• Explain how the life model can be applied for the population.

When applying the life model to immigrants and their children, one must look at problems in living such as stressful life transitions, environmental pressures and maladaptive enter personal processes. One must also look at the sensitivity to social diverse city and the recognition of factors that influence vulnerability and oppression. One must look at healthy and unhealthy habits and the consideration of variations in the life course taken by the individual.

• Explain where the gaps are in applying the life model for this population.

One gap in applying the life model for this population would be if they lacked individual skills and motivation. If the immigrants would lack these two traits, they would possibly be destined to live a life of poverty.

• When looking at the gaps, explain which theory might be helpful in filling the gaps of the life model when working with this population.

I believe in order to live a rich and fulfilling life the social worker and the immigrants need to look at what needs to take place for them to be a success. In reading in our textbook, I came across a part where it said that it’s very important that the practitioner does not blame the oppressed person for their troubles. A person’s coping skills, strengths and resiliency must be understood and fully supported by all those involved. When people feel positive about their own capacities and helpful, they are more likely to achieve their potentials. In applying the life model method and skills it is important to provide group services. The social worker must be knowledgeable about forming such groups. These groups require a compositional balance such as developing appropriate time arrangements, related to the number of people in the group, frequency of how often the group meets and the duration of each session. By providing groups, not only can the social worker learned more about the clients, but the clients can learn about each other and gain support from each other.

Turner, F. J. (Ed.). (2017). Social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches (6th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

• Chapter 18: Life Model and Social Work Practice (pp. 287–301)
• Chapter 24: Problem-Solving and Social Work (pp. 387–397)

Piedra, L. M., & Engstrom, D. W. (2009). Segmented assimilation theory and the life model: an integrated approach to understanding immigrants and their children. Social Work, 3, 270.

Colleague 2: Allison

Class,

The diverse population I worked with within my fieldwork experience is homeless veterans. They are a unique population because they have so much diverse experience but a lot of times didn’t have the resources to reintegrate within society. This has caused them to face employment, transportation, education, housing, and mental health/ SA barriers that need to be addressed to be reintegrated. The life model looks at the dysfunctional relationships between people and the social environment (Turner, 2017). This model applies to homeless veterans because we are able to observe the direct link between veterans and why they are homeless in context to their social environment and the resources they have access to. The vulnerability factor is a large factor as well as their own person and their habits and behaviors that influence their vulnerability. One gap in the life model would be the individual characteristics of each person such as motivation and individual life skills. Lacking these two things can cause a lot more problems for them including endless poverty. The resiliency theory can be utilized to fill in gaps that are missed. Because motivation is such a crucial part of getting out of poverty, it is important for the professional and patient to understand their resiliency and what coping skills and strengths they have to assist them in moving forward.

Allie

Turner, F. J. (Ed.). (2017). Social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches (6th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Piedra, L. M., & Engstrom, D. W. (2009). Segmented assimilation theory and the life model: an integrated approach to understanding immigrants and their children. Social Work, 3, 270.