Family and Kinship Systems
Are the families nuclear, extended, or blended? Do family members live in close proximity? What is the role and status of individual family members? By age and gender?
My nuclear family, Myself (Rochelle, 45yr) Husband (Grant, 35yr) 2 Twin 12 yr old boys Sam and Leo. We believe in a marriage partnership sharing financial and domestic responsibilities. Our sons have weekly chores, focus on school and sports activities. My mother and stepfather live 2.5 miles away she is 73yr. and my stepfather is 80.
How do the family and/or group members relate to the larger community or groups?
WE participate in our community by volunteering with our church, our boys play Little league in our township, we frequent local library and theater events as well as belong to our community pool.
Are there distinct neighborhoods or areas of the community where distinct cultural, ethnic, or religious groups, refugees, or immigrants live? Unfortunately no, our community is homogeneous, mostly white with a small population of African Americans Asian. Our church is much more diverse, whites, blacks, Asian, and Mexican immigrants.
What are the communication patterns within the distinct community groups? Friendly, hellos and hugs upon greeting someone you know.
If working with a refugee community, ask about names of tribes and/or clans.
What place do the “ancestors” have in the worldview of the group? How is the belief in the power of the ancestors incorporated in the daily life and rituals of the group? NONE
Is the group now or has it traditionally been matriarchal or patriarchal? Is there a preference for first cousins to marry? Who is permitted to marry whom among those who are related by blood/genetics? My family was Traditionally Patriarchal until my generation. My husband and I believe in equality, we dole out chores based on what we prefer to do.
Second cousins were permitted to marry in my extended family’s Appalachian community and culture.
Social Life and Networks
What are the daily routines of the group? What are the important life cycle events such as birth, marriage, family bearing, family rearing, and death? How are they celebrated or observed? Work during the week play on the weekend. Traditional American celebrations for weddings. We share similar child-rearing practices, most babies are born in the hospital with an epidural, come home in 48 hrs. Some family members have had babies out of wedlock, it was frowned upon, but the children were embraced. Traditional Christian funerals, starting with a visitation and a sermon by local clergy or family member. Food and gathering afterward, before burial or cremation.
How are the educational systems organized? How do schools receive and accept input from the community? How do they assist students and their families who are new immigrants or refugees? Our school district is Forest Hills’ local school district. It is a well-respected and highly rated school system; tax levies always pass. People move to this community specifically for the school system.
What are the social/economic problems experienced by the group within the community or by the community itself? Economic growth and development are on the rise in my community, new home development has encroached upon green space and there is a going fight over the people who want more development to increase housing values and the other side who want to preserve the forests and creeks, what Forest Hills is known for.
Are there special concerns with a particular ethnic or cultural group such as abuse of alcohol, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD), gang membership, and polygamy? How does the group view domestic violence and corporal punishment?
We have no particular special concerns, I’m sure we have domestic and alcohol abuse but I do not have statistics on that I would assume it’s the average. Corporal punishment is not widely accepted in this community, but I’m sure there are outliers who believe in it.
Are newly arrived groups, such as immigrants or refugees, included within the local community or isolated? Who are the group’s local leaders? I am not aware of any refugee resources in my neighborhood.
Are there centers or organizations that reach out to special groups within the community? What activities or opportunities are available to new community members? For example, are General Educational Development (GED) courses, English as second language classes, housing assistance, and/or work training available to newcomers?
There is a chamber of commerce and Community center that provides welcome packets to new residents but I did not find any resources within the township for housing assistance. I did however find we have a Comboni mission center, a nonprofit community center help establish Su casa Hispanic center for Hispanic immigrants seeking a better life. Anderson Senior Center provides free lunches, health promotion, and social activities to anyone over 55. FHFE is a nonprofit organization that raises money for school and or sports scholarships for underprivileged youth in the area. They also provide English as second language classes for free. The school district offers free English classes and GED classes.
How does the social environment contribute to a sense of belonging? Do all members of the group belong to a distinct religious group? What are the ways that the group practices its religion? What are the dominant religious groups within the community? Dominant religious group within the community Catholicism, and Presbyterian.
What are the group’s social interaction patterns? Do all members of the group speak a common language? Yes English
Are ethnic grocery stores, restaurants, and churches located within the community? What foods do members of the cultural group commonly eat? What foods/substances do they commonly avoid (i.e., alcohol, pork products)? The grocery stores in our community is Kroger and farmers markets. Meats, bread, vegetables and fruits are staple foods. We do not have any ethnic food stores but we do have a few ethnic restaurants to choose from. But we do have Thai , Lebanese, Indian, and several Mexican restaurants.
Are members of the group comfortable moving away from the larger group? I believe its not uncommon but most people around here, have grown up here and so have their parents and grandparents. People tend to leave for college or jobs, usually ending back here at some point as I did! 87% native born.
Where are ethnic groups, immigrants, or refugees located within the larger community?
Immigrants are the smallest population in our area but accounts for the fastest-growing population. Within our Greater Cincinnati area the highest immigrant population is the Asian population, then Mexican, we also have and refugees are reportedly from northern Africa and South or central America.
Political or Government Systems
Which factors in the political system influence the ways in which the group perceives its status vis-à-vis the dominant culture, that is, laws, justice, and cultural heroes?
How does the economic system influence control of resources such as land, water, housing, education and technical training, jobs, and opportunities?
What is the legal status of the group members? Refugee or immigrant visas? Temporary worker permits? Documented or undocumented? All of them
How does the local government respond to the ethnic and cultural makeup of the group? What are the ways that the local community “embraces its diversity?” Cultural Fairs and celebrations, such as Oktoberfest, Itailan Fest, Greek summer festival, St. Patricks Day parade, Clubs and organizations of people from different ethnicities.
Language and Traditions
Are there differences in dialects or languages spoken between health care professionals and local groups within the community? NO they have designated translators on call to help the non English speaker
What is the literacy level of members of the group? Can they read or write in any language(s)? Everyone is literate and French and Italian are spoken in our family.
Do health care facilities provide educational materials in diverse languages? I do see Spanish readily available, sometimes French available.
In what ways do the major cultural traditions of history, art, drama, and so on influence the cultural identity of the group?
How are local cultures or ethnic traditions embraced during holidays or special celebrations? We are Christian Americans and our ethnic roots from Ireland, Scotland and Portugal did not uphold through the generations. My extended family is from Appalachia and has Native American, English, and Italian heritage. Most of their customs and traditions are parallel to Christian Americans traditions and values.
We celebrate Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day.
Worldviews, Value Orientations, and Cultural Norms
What are the major cultural values about the relationships of cultural groups to nature and to one another? How can the group’s ethical beliefs be described?
What are the norms and standards of behavior (authority, responsibility, dependability, and competition)?
Is the group communal or individualistic? How different is their worldview from the dominant worldview of the larger society or culture?
What are the cultural attitudes about time, family, hospitality, family work, and leisure?
What are the common values of the group, such as education, work, and so on?
How are the cultural values reflected in factors such as dress? Do the women cover their hair? Do they prefer skirts or dresses over pants or trousers?
Are there unique cultural practices within the group that might bring wider community censure, such as the role of women, discipline of children, and relationships between husband and wife?
Religious Beliefs and Practices
What are the major religious beliefs and practices within the community?
How do they influence daily life? How do they relate to health practices? What are the practices surrounding major life events such as birth, marriage, and death?
Does the cultural group have particular practices related to grieving or mourning?
Health Beliefs and Practices
What are the group’s attitudes and beliefs regarding health and illness? Does the cultural group seek care from indigenous (folk) practitioners? Are there traditional practitioners (shamans, curanderos, others) within the group?
Where do group members go to seek care? Who makes the decisions about seeking health care? Accepting treatments? Are there biologic variations that are important to the health of this group? What are the group’s expressed health concerns? Are there cultural or ethnic stores in neighborhoods selling medicinal herbs? What are the primary health concerns and/or illnesses in this population/cultural group (e.g., malaria, HIV/AIDS, female genital mutilation [FGM], malnutrition, tuberculosis)? How do the group’s concerns align with those of the local and state health care systems?
Health Care Systems
Do community health care facilities provide interpreters? Do physician offices and other health care facilities offer educational materials in languages other than English? Are health facilities located in accessible locations, that is, in ethnic neighborhoods? Do health care providers incorporate aspects of other health care systems, for example, acupuncture and referrals to traditional healers?
Do members of the group have access to health care? Do they have adequate transportation? Are the hours of operation of health care facilities and availability of appointment times appropriate for members of the group?
Economic Factors
Does the group or community own or operate its own clinic, neighborhood health center, child or adult day care center, long-term care facility, or nursing home? How will the group or community pay for health care services?
Is there a group health care policy for all members? Will key leaders in the community work with members to collectively pay for health care services? For example, although the Amish religious leaders have no health insurance, members pool their resources and often settle a hospital bill in cash at the time of the client’s discharge.
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