Introduction

We asked several outstanding Hispanic social workers to tell us why they chose social work as their profession and what they see as challenges to serving the Hispanic community today.

Marlinda Quintana-Jefferson, MSW, PhD
Broward County Health Department
Patient Care Administrator, HIV/AIDS Office

Dr. Quintana-Jefferson

Q. What are your areas of expertise?

My areas of expertise are in the area of mental health and social work administration. Although I do not currently practice as a mental health clinician I have a vast experience working with families, children and adolescents. Areas of expertise include child physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence and cultural adjustment.

Currently, and for the last ten years, public health administration has been my field, specifically focused on HIV/AIDS. My areas of expertise include supervision, budgeting, planning, program evaluation, and development of innovative programs and quality management initiatives.

Q. Why did you become a social worker?

I was born and raised in Santiago, Chile. My mother was a proud and dedicated social worker, and it was she who provided me with a close and personal view of the profession. The Chilean social and political dynamic in the seventies further strengthened my desire to pursue social work. At age 17, I was accepted to the school of social work at the University of Chile, and felt I had begun my journey toward making the ideals of peace, justice and self-determination a reality.

The Chilean coup d'etat abruptly interrupted my studies but not my commitment to pursue social work as a career. The coup changed my life's journey and took me from student to political prisoner to exile. Later, in my new host country, and after an adjustment to a new and strange language, I returned to social work studies at the University of Washington. This time, I juggled motherhood and a job, in addition to my school responsibilities.

While I attended school I worked at the South American Refugee Resettlement organization. My experience as a refugee and my social work background gave me a unique insight into the work. Later I was recognized by the United Nations Chapter in Seattle for work done on behalf of refugees.

My first social work professional job was as director of Mujer, a Chicana-Latina Organization, a grass roots, community based group. This experience convinced me that deciding to resume my social work studies in my new country had been the right choice. I realized that social work has a place in all parts of the world, and that the principles of social justice and self-determination are universal. Five years later, I returned to the University of Washington to pursue an MSW.

While in the program, I was awarded a fellowship in mental health by the National Mental Health Institute to work with minority populations. After graduation, and for the next 20 years, I worked in various positions across the country as a mental health professional, always focused on mental health programs that met the cultural and linguistic needs of Hispanics. (I even managed to return to Chile in the mid-nineties to teach at a University there).

Q. What are the biggest challenges to serving the Hispanic population?

The Hispanic population is diverse in ethnicity, language and culture. Diversity challenges service providers to become culturally competent, and to learn and appreciate the uniqueness of each Latino population group. Other challenges include adjustment issues brought about by acculturation and generational distance from or closeness to, Latino roots.

While some families may struggle to preserve traditional roles and responsibilities, others struggle with issues of adaptation versus adjustment. Another challenge is how to reach out to those who live in fear of deportation and the related loss of access to health care.

Social workers have a major role in meeting those challenges. Culturally competent practice and advocacy, as well as strength in promoting the betterment of the Hispanic community, should all lead to stronger community and a better overall system of care.

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