Expanding Possibilities

Flexibility and Solidarity with Under‐resourced Immigrant Families During the Covid‐19 Pandemic

Bibliographic Data

ID21320022
AuthorsCelia Jaes Falicov (University of California San Diego, corresponding author), Celia Falicov (University of California San Diego School of Medicine San Diego CA USA), Alba Niño (0000-0003-0548-2558, Alliant International University San Diego CA USA), Sol D'Urso (University of San Diego San Diego CA USA), Sol D’Urso (University of San Diego)
Year2020
Volume59
Issue3
Pages865-882
Publication date2020-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFamily Process (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0014-7370 • E-ISSN: 1545-5300
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/famp.12578
PMID32663315
OpenAlexW3041748312
LanguageEN
Citations received37
References cited30

The novel coronavirus has added new anxieties and forms of grieving to the myriad practical and emotional burdens already present in the lives of underserved and uninsured immigrant families and communities. In this article, we relate our experiences since the COVID‐19 crisis to the lessons we have learned over time as mental health professionals working with families in no‐cost, student‐managed community comprehensive health clinics in academic‐community partnerships. We compare and contrast the learnings of flexibility of time, space, procedures, or attendance we acquired in this clinical community setting during regular times, with the new challenges families and therapists face, and the adaptations needed to continue to work with our clients in culturally responsive and empowering ways during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We describe families, students, professionals, promotoras (community links), and IT support staff joining together in solidarity as the creative problem solvers of new possibilities when families do not have access to Wi‐Fi, smartphones, or computers, or suffer overcrowding and lack of privacy. We describe many anxieties related to economic insecurity or fear of facing death alone, but also how to visualize expanding possibilities in styles of parenting or types of emotional support among family members as elements of hope that may endure beyond these unprecedented tragic times of loss and uncertainty

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) · Face (sociological concept) · Flexibility (engineering) · Immigration · Overcrowding · Pandemic · Political science · Public relations · Social science · Sociology · Solidarity · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology

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