Multi-Ethnic Families
An Approach With Love and Compassion To
Generate Positive Actions
SCDMH Multi-Cultural Council
January 18, 2012
Nilsy Rapalo, M.A.
Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center
Who are part of a multi-ethnic
families?
MacGoldrick, Pearce, and Giordano (1982)
described ethnicity a sense of commonality
that is more than race, religion, or national or
geographic origin. Conscious and unconscious
process contribute to a sense of identity and
historical continuity.
Minority Groups
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Blacktinos
African-Americans
Native-Americans
Asian-American
New Yorican
LGBT, Senior Citizens, People with Disabilities
Limbo Generation
Where do you belong?
• Identification Process Exploration where my
family came from (heritage, acculturation and
traditions)
• Demystification
• Affirmation (reframe any negative cognition)
Turkey with Tortillas?
Acculturation is a process which members of one
cultural group adopt the beliefs and behaviors of
another group. Although acculturation is usually in
the direction of a minority group adopting habits
and language patterns of the dominant group,
acculturation can be reciprocal –that is, the
dominant group also adopt patterns typical of the
minority group.
Hazudas’s Scale (1988)
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Language in childhood, adulthood, proficiency
Values of preserving the culture: history/traditions
Gender and power role changes.
Switching roles based on language access
Interaction with members of the mainstream society
(higher in kids than adults)
• V62.4 Acculturation Problem DSMIV
• Pathologies in each generation (self-cut)
Wellness versus Fear
• Blended families can have experiences from
wellness or from fear.
• Fear: political asylum, illegal status, adoption,
TPS (temporary protection status)
• Wellness: education, new job, love.
Assertive Assessment
Multi-ethnic kids needs a deep assessment of their
emotional condition beyond their present condition.
We need to talk to the parents about the mixed
information that kids can receive from two different
cultures like:
• “Don’t talk about our family with others (Asian
culture)
• “Please share your ideas” (American teachers) and
• PTSS (Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome).
Tolerance as Providers
• Learn about new cultures and multicultural positive
role model for the kids. (Dr. Quinones)
• Keep multi-ethnic materials around your office /home
like books, posters, games, dolls that shows your
acceptance and tolerance.
• Ask about their traditions and the meaning to be a
multi-ethnic family for each member.
• Express a message of acceptance/understanding.
• Explore your own prejudices.
Tolerance as a Family
• Nothing to be ashamed about who we are.
• We are proud of the roots.
• We can create our own world with new and old
traditions.
• Multi-ethnicity is a gift and embrace it. (pizza with
Seafood).
Kupugani
• “To raise oneself up”
• “It is not our differences that divide us. It is
our inability to recognize, accept, and
celebrate those differences”.
Audre Lorde (Caribbean-American author)
Celebrate the Process
• The acceptance is a process that happen to the individual but
also to the society after you are willing to leave your comfort
zone and reach you middle point between who you are and
who are others.
• Multi-ethnic are here and are part of the American life. We
need to think in different colors and faces.
• America is more than hybrid society, it is an enriched country
that has evolved and the multi-ethnicity has been a
contribution.
Thank You
For More Information Contact
Nilsy Rapalo, M.A.
864-873-5063
Charleston-Dorchester Mental
Health Center