Treatment outcome studies in the discipline of social work, psychology, and psychiatry have demonstrated the efficacy and effectiveness of differential psychotherapy approaches in addressing the psychological needs of individuals across the life span. Throughout the last four decades, scholar-practitioners have engaged in a professional quest to find evidence to support the efficacy of psychotherapy in ameliorating an array of clinical symptoms and levels of distress in identified patient or client populations. This chapter presents an overview of evidence-based practice with ethnically diverse clients. Predicated on an integrative understanding of evidence-based practice and cultural competency in mental health and clinical care settings, and on the importance of intersectionality as the guiding theoretical perspective for effective delivery of patient-centered services, it presents selected conceptual frameworks for the cultural adaptation of evidence-based treatments. The chapter highlights culturally adapted cognitive-behavioral therapy as an exemplar of evidence-based treatment for ethnic and racially diverse patient populations.

Individuals of diverse cultures suffer from substance use disorders (SUDs). These individuals and the families that love them face devastating adverse consequences. It is crucial for research to continue to develop best practices and policies that address the public health emergency that exists across all socioeconomic levels, races, genders, cultures, and so on. This chapter highlights the importance of addressing the current public health crisis of substance abuse and SUDs with various population groups from different cultural backgrounds. It emphasizes client-centered practice from an intersectional perspective with a special focus on families. Health practices and policies that decrease disparities in healthcare are important to the well-being of marginalized groups from different cultures. Culture and its impact on perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors of different groups are critical to developing evidence-based treatments for substance abuse that are efficacious.

This chapter highlights both the strengths of Arab American families and the challenges they face, as well as outline recommendations for clinical social work practice. It also highlights important similarities, differences, and false assumptions associated with Arab culture. It is essential to understand the culture of Arab American immigrants, their strengths and needs, their cultural attitudes toward mental health services, and the post-9/11 anti-Arab political climate before choosing an appropriate intervention approach. Based on these issues, social workers need to take into consideration the diverse cultural values held within the Arab community while practicing within mainstream American health delivery systems. Additionally, providers must educate themselves on Arabic culture and Islamic values. Finally, it is imperative that clinicians explore other appropriate approaches when dealing with Arab individuals, families, and communities that reflect on their experiences, such as linkages to immigration services or partnering with an imam for counseling.

Critical discourse on domestic adoption practices and the colonization of children of color via international adoption is ongoing, as adoption represents part of the larger narrative of historical oppression and institutionalized discrimination of communities of color domestically and internationally. The prevalence, continuation, and long-term outcomes of transracial adoption remain controversial. Considerable research over the past two decades has explored a variety of factors related to domestic and international transracial adoption. Extant research covers identity development of transracial adoptees, adoption microaggressions, names and identity for transracial adoptees, authenticity for transracial adoptees, and racial, ethnic, and cultural socialization of adoptees. This chapter provides a brief history of domestic and international transracial adoption practices, knowledge about transracial socialization patterns (i.e., racial, ethnic, and cultural) and their long term effects, and an understanding of the clinical implications of working with transracially adopted individuals. In addition, it provides a case vignette and discussion questions.

Native Americans are a young and growing population. Poverty, racism, and trauma are common factors in the lives of many Native people, and these provide a context for significant social and health disparities. It is also important to recognize the resilience and tenacity that have allowed Native people to survive as distinct cultural and political groups in spite of centuries of colonization. Helping professionals can play an important role in assisting Native clients to access needed services and nurture their resilience. Professionals can also bring a strong grounding in social justice to combat many of the struggles that affect Indigenous Peoples. This chapter discusses the demographic profile of the Native American population. It also discusses the psychosocial risks and needs of Native Americans. The chapter provides the assessment treatment approaches for social and health problems, although few have been developed or adapted for Native Americans.

This chapter begins by providing an overview of contemporary religious trends in the United States and how these vary according to age, sex, and socioeconomic status to show their increasing diversity and the shifts that are taking place in people’s religious and spiritual identification. Following this demographic context, it examines the interrelation between ethnicity, religion, education, and religious and spiritual identification. To better understand some recent changes in the spiritual lives of Americans in the United States, the chapter reviews the distinction between religion and spirituality. Once used interchangeably, these terms have different meanings in today’s world. From there, it explores religious and cultural worldviews, their interrelationship, and how these influence feelings and behaviors. Finally, the chapter discusses implications for practice with ethnically diverse families and communities and provides a case example.

Suicide is a problem that knows no cultural boundaries. As the minority population in the United States continues to grow, it is essential for health and mental health providers to develop culturally relevant prevention and intervention efforts to address these at-risk populations. Risk and protective factors vary across culture and ethnicities, as do attitudes and perspectives regarding suicide acceptability. Intervention and prevention efforts should be guided by culturally relevant risk and protective factors for suicide and an understanding of attitudes toward suicide among the target population. This chapter explores the diverse demographic and ethnic profile of suicidal behavior in the United States and reviews known psychosocial risk factors for suicide within these cultural groups. It reviews the critical factors related to culture to be considered when conducting a risk assessment with suicidal clients. The chapter explores the treatment of suicidal individuals from culturally competent and evidence-based practice perspectives.

During recent decades, ethnic and racial variability has increased greatly in classic immigration countries such as Australia, Aotearoa-New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. In Western Europe as well, immigration from North Africa, Asia, and neighboring European countries has accompanied the economic rise and decrease in birthrates characterizing that part of the world. In all these countries, minority and immigrant groups may include a disproportionate percentage of young people who need to find a place in society while developing complex and evolving forms of identity. This chapter introduces a variety of culturally informed models of identity development that may be useful to social workers, clinical and counseling psychologists, and educators. They may be in a position to support adolescents from a broad range of ethnic, religious, and bicultural groups as well as youth differing in their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Multiracial individuals are at the forefront of the country’s significant demographic changes, yet, despite robust growth over the past several decades, the multiracial population has only recently been fully acknowledged by the U.S. Census Bureau and thus only officially accounted for in recent years. Despite the elimination of some legal barriers to interracial relationships, interracial couples continue to experience discrimination, inappropriate comments, and rejection based on their relationship status. This chapter discusses monoracial parents of multiracial children. Decades of developmental research suggests that parenting and family processes play important roles in youth development and have been linked to overall youth well-being. It briefly highlights the research that focuses on the experiences of multiracial individuals and discusses the racial identity development of multiracial individuals as well as the microaggressions these individuals experience in their everyday life. The chapter provides some clinical considerations through a case example.

This chapter focuses primarily on domestic violence and social work practice with low-income immigrant women, particularly those who are undocumented. Impressive social and legal remedies were achieved for victims of domestic violence in the beginning of the women’s movement. However, legislative and regulatory changes were critically needed for domestic violence victims with immigrant and refugee status to ensure their ability to access needed social welfare services and public benefits such as income support, healthcare, employment, education, housing, and personal social services. In addition, social workers were challenged to develop new models of intervention and practice that addressed the needs of immigrant domestic violence victims. An understanding of how different immigrant communities view domestic violence can help social workers begin to reformulate their practice, advocate for policy changes, and formulate effective responses to assist battered immigrant women.