Bridging Cultures: Southeast Asian Refugees in America : Social Work with Southeast Asian Refugees

Southeast Asian term covers the major ethnic group who emigrated to the United States from these countries have been Vietnamese, Chinese Vietnamese, Lao, Lao Hmong and Cambodians, in addition to a number of smaller ethnic groups. This document is composed of five sections which provide an overview, explore theoretical and social policy issues, and describe mental health service approaches. Section I provides an introduction to the Southeast Asian refugees' socio-economic and political situation, as well as mental health status. Section II focuses on social policies which affect the Southeast Asian populations through legislation and institutional practices. Section III reports on the community organizing activities which have recently been initiated in these emerging communities. In section IV the articles provides background information on the social and cultural values of the Vietnamese, Lao, Lao Hmong and Cambodians. Section V offers a number of articles related to mental health practice with the Southeast Asian refugees, with an emphais on approaches to treating mental health problems and on models for service delivery. The bibliography lists various sources on the Southeast Asians. (Adapted from the preface).