Career Strategies for Working with Recent Immigrant Clients Mike Stebleton, Ph.D. CCE Job Loss Conference, September 21, 2010 University of Minnesota - TC

Activity ► Turn to neighbor(s); introduce self. ► Place of employment; overview of clients served; setting (e.g., agency). ► Common issues; needs; goals of immigrant clients.

Presentation Objectives ► To provide an overview of demographics and trends, including immigration. ► To introduce the ecology of human development. ► To share strategies and tools for working with recent immigrant clients; engage in case study discussion.

Andile’s Story “You have to cross the first river successfully before you ask the second river if it’s okay to cross it.” –African proverb Is there wisdom in indecision? (Krumboltz) Are there other more holistic ways to view career that honor contextual factors?

Quiz: Trends ► Answer the following questions on your handout. ► Compare your answers with a neighbor. ► How might these demographics relate to your own work/practice?.

Demographic Trends ► Over 37 million people are foreign-born (12% of the population). ► By 2015, 37.2% of undergraduates will be students of color.

Demographics ► 2010 Census: Surpassed 300M; app. 83% of growth came from non-Whites. ► One out of four Americans under 18 has at least one immigrant parent (American Community Survey, 2010). ► 18.9M new jobs created by 2014 will require some postsecondary education.

What are the implications of these demographic shifts? ► Counselors will need to meet the needs of a diverse population (e.g., job loss) ► Role of contextual factors (war, famine, discrimination). ► Opportunity to meet social justice needs.

Historical Perspective ► Frank Parsons, father of career development, helped immigrants of the 20 th century. ► Charge is to help the new immigrants of the 21 st century. ► Agents of social justice and change: What is our role as career professionals?

Person-Environment Interaction ► P/E “fit” – historical roots in career development ► Ecological Approaches; developmental ► Work of Urie Bronfenbrenner

Ecological Components ► Systems-based; dynamic ► Process-Person-Context Model ► Organized around system level; proximal to distal (refer to diagram)

System Levels ► Microsystem: most immediate interactions; influences ► Mesosystem: a system of microsystems; containing the client (i.e., more direct) ► Exosystem: linkages taking place between 2 or more settings (e.g., work/home).

System Levels ► Macrosystem: overarching patterns of systems characteristic of given culture; social influences; life course options, etc. ► Ex: immigration policies; US foreign relations; visa restrictions, cultural understandings, etc.

Characteristics of Systems ► Levels interact with each other; not discrete ► Occur over time ► Holistic approach; factors might change ► Each client is unique; help explore map of influences

Case Study Activity ► Case of Fatimah ► Review case: Discuss w/ colleagues ► Using the ecological model, what factors might impact your work with this client? Complete nested diagram.

Strategies and Application ► Help immigrant clients to explore the meaning of multiple work roles. ► Utilize innovative assessment techniques that are relevant. ► Issues of racism and discrimination may exist.

Strategies and Application ► Consider alternate decision-making models. ► Role of chance events. ► Help clients learn the rules of the “employment game”; self-employment and multiple streams options.

Parting Thoughts… We need to ask ourselves the following questions: 1) “Who really benefits from my work in vocational psychology?” 2) “ And does it make a difference where a difference really matters?” -Blustein & McWhirter

Discussion & Contact Info Mike Stebleton, Ph.D. Assistant Professor University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Dept. of Postsecondary Teaching & Learning College of Education & Human Development