Abstract
Yes, I can by Catherine Luz Marrs Fuchsel highlights the pivotal need for interventions for Latina immigrant women. Yes, I can or Sí, Yo Puedo (SYP) is an 11-week curriculum group program for Latina immigrant women that promotes healthy relationships, self-esteem and provides resources and supports. Interestingly, the author clearly establishes that the intervention is for women who are at risk or victims of domestic violence, but her presentation of the curriculum and implementation allows for any woman to participate or gain help from the program. The book is grounded on the discussion of the data derived from the qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the effectiveness of the intervention. Although evaluations have been conducted and shown significance in two Midwestern states, it would be of the outmost importance to continue evaluating more groups in different settings.
The book demonstrates the effectiveness of an innovative intervention that is evidenced informed through its use of psychoeducation and that caters to a specific audience considering the language, culture, and customs of immigrant Latina women. The author clearly defines her use of the word immigrants and cultural constructs relevant to Latina women. She discusses the concepts of familismo, machismo, and collectivism, which were considered in the design and execution of the intervention. For example, a collectivist culture would most likely benefit more from a group intervention than a one-on-one intervention.
This book is comprised of five chapters divided into the following topics: (1) Development of the SYP Curriculum, (2) Understanding Domestic Violence among Immigrant Latina Women, (3) Theoretical Background, (4) Group Format and Group Work, and (5) Sí, Yo Puedo Curriculum, Weekly Sessions, Instruction, and Activities. The author engages in a frank discussion of the experience of disfranchised and underserved immigrant Latina women, victims of domestic violence, and their fear of reporting or accessing services due to their immigration status. This content is vital for practitioners working with this population to manage barriers to services, advocacy, and needs.
The Theoretical Background chapter covers a range of theories, such as intersectionality, feminist ideology, and group theory. Noticeably lacking is a more thorough discussion of the principles of psychoeducation, which, although not a theory, helped formulate the curriculum and its format. The last two chapters serve as a guide. Particularly, mental health professionals and paraprofessionals can benefit from detailed information on how to conduct the program and their role in the process. It provides details about physical space, setting, format, diversity within group, and other key aspects. The author then proceeds to present the weekly sessions with instruction and activities. The sessions are outlined concisely, with clear direction, goals, and objectives and include activities with which to practice and assess authentically the absorption of information. The activities use relevant and familiar language for the target population. The empowerment model is visible throughout the sessions in the way topics are discussed and how they are driven by a strengths perspective rather than deficits.
Yes, I can not only provides the steps toward implementation of the intervention but also gives the reader an understanding of all the environmental factors that impact this population and their services. Overall, the book structure was clear and well conceptualized. The fact that the author shares her Latino experience as an immigrant woman in the United States and recognizes her social location in intersectionality—as a woman, educated, on the side of providing services-not receiving them, and bilingual—provides credibility and assertiveness through her unique position in identifying with some of the characteristics of the target population. The book is well designed for practitioners in social work, psychology, psychiatry, and other mental health professionals by offering an intervention for a population that is underrepresented and lacking a presence in the clinical literature
As a Latina woman, clinical social worker and academic, living in the United States, I often wonder about the shortage of interventions that are well informed by research and scholarly work and that cater to the eclectic, unique, and strong characteristics of my culture. We should support and disseminate this information for the benefit of practitioners and these women. Yes, We can!