Essay Sample on Protective Factors Among Latino Families Involved With Child Welfare

Parental Monitoring

Parental monitoring is a major influence on children as to whether they will indulge in substance abuse or not. Monitoring involves the extent to which parents may supervise and watch the activities of their children. Latino parents usually monitor their children to prevent them from engaging in bad behavior such as substance abuse. Notably, it has been seen that Latino children create the perception of what is expected of them from their parents. Parents use those expectations to prevent their children from getting involved in bad behaviors

Academic Competence

The academic competence is an important protective factor which is used by the Latinos families in ensuring that the adolescents, as well as young adults, avoid substance abuse and bad behavior. The academic factor is an important aspect to consider since it ensures they concentrate on their studies to enable them avoids bad behavior. Education will enable them to focus on improving their lives since they will spend a lot of time in its which will lead them to avoid bad behavior and thus avoid bad company (Bailey et.al. 2015).

Anti-drug Use Policies

The Latinos families have also imposed anti-drug use policies that in their families to that extent that those who partake in such bad behavior are considered bad people in the society. The reason for such policies is because those families know that drugs contribute to bad behavior and therefore, restricting its use in the families will go a long way in ensuring that there are no negative outcomes in the family. In essence, the anti-drug policies have been beneficial to the community in general and therefore, the communities have ensured that adolescents and young adults are guided well (Kumpfer et.al. 2015).

Strong Neighborhood Attachment

Strong neighborhood attachment is an important protective factor used by Latinos families in ensuring that the adolescents and young adults avoid bad behavior. For instance, the neighborhood has organized activities that are aimed at strengthening the behavior of those participants. Therefore, the good neighborhood is very crucial since it can impact good or bad behavior in adolescents and young adults in the community.

Under the Moon is a movie that has received several acclaims due to its approach in illuminating the barriers that Mexican families face in the American community. As such, it is important that the families that are discussed in the movie be engaged fully for them to be able to tackle problems that affect them. One of the most critical approaches that can be used in engaging the families is the formulation of good monitoring strategies by the community. With good monitoring strategies, there can be a sure bet that the families will grow in a positive environment which in effect will lead them to be successful in various fields. Communities should also be engaged by establishing anti-drug policies that are aimed at ensuring that families stay clean from drugs and alcohol. It is true that drugs are one of the major contributing factors of havoc among various families and hence, it is important that families are engaged to be able to avoid such life-threatening situations. Therefore, it is important that the families are engaged for them to remain important in the society. The reason for the engagement will be crucial in that the families will be in a better situation in the community (Santiago et.al. 2014).

Work Cited

Bailey, A. M., Brazil, A. M., Conrad-Hiebner, A., & Counts, J. (2015).Protective factors among Latino families involved with child welfare: A review of Spanish protective factor research on child maltreatment prevention in seven countries.

Kumpfer, K. L., Alvarado, R., Smith, P., & Bellamy, N. (2002).Cultural sensitivity and adaptation in family-based prevention interventions Prevention Science, 3(3), 241-246.

Santiago, C. D., Gudino, O. G., Baweja, S., & Nadeem, E. (2014).ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AMONG IMMIGRANT AND USBORN LATINO ADOLESCENTS: ASSOCIATIONS WITH CULTURAL, FAMILY, AND ACCULTURATION FACTORS. Journal of community psychology, 42(6), 735-747