Melvin Delgado

Communal celebrations bring out the best in us, offering a place for people to come together and take a break from the routines of daily life. They are a vital aspect of city life and are increasingly popular as an urban development strategy. Celebrating Urban Community Life is a comprehensive guide to understanding and enhancing communal celebrations as a source of community capital. Drawing on case studies from New York, San Francisco, and Toronto, Melvin Delgado discusses the many ways in which fairs, festivals, and parades can enhance communal life. Providing a framework for social scientists, urban planners, and social workers to analyse and foster celebrations that benefit urban populations, the book is a valuable resource for those with an interest in this growing area of academic and practical interest.

Communal celebrations bring out the best in us, offering a place for people to come together and take a break from the routines of daily life. They are a vital aspect of city life and are increasingly popular as an urban development strategy. Celebrating Urban Community Life is a comprehensive guide to understanding and enhancing communal celebrations as a source of community capital. Drawing on case studies from New York, San Francisco, and Toronto, Melvin Delgado discusses the many ways in which fairs, festivals, and parades can enhance communal life. Providing a framework for social scientists, urban planners, and social workers to analyse and foster celebrations that benefit urban populations, the book is a valuable resource for those with an interest in this growing area of academic and practical interest.

Community Practice and Urban Youth is for graduate level students in fields that offer youth studies and community practice courses. Practitioners in these fields, too, will find the book particularly useful in furthering the integration of social justice as a conceptual and philosophical foundation. The use of food, environmental justice, and immigrant-rights and the book’s focus on service-learning and civic engagement involving these three topics offers an innovative approach for courses.

Community Practice and Urban Youth is for graduate level students in fields that offer youth studies and community practice courses. Practitioners in these fields, too, will find the book particularly useful in furthering the integration of social justice as a conceptual and philosophical foundation. The use of food, environmental justice, and immigrant-rights and the book’s focus on service-learning and civic engagement involving these three topics offers an innovative approach for courses.

The past decade brought forth a wave of excitement and promise for researchers and practitioners interested in community practice as an approach based on social justice principles and an embrace of community participatory actions. But, effective community practice is predicated on the availability and use of assessment methods that not only capture and report on conditions, but also simultaneously set the stage for social change efforts. This research, therefore, serves the dual purpose of generating knowledge and also being an integral part of social intervention. Research done in this way, however, requires new tools. Photovoice is one such tool - a form of visual ethnography that invites participants to represent their community or point of view through photographs, accompanied by narratives, to be shared with each other and with a broader community. Urban Youth and Photovoice focuses on the use of this method within urban settings and among adolescents and young adults - a group that is almost naturally drawn to the use of photography (especially digital and particularly in today's era of texting, facebook, and instagram) to showcase photovoice as an important qualitative research method for social workers and others in the social sciences, and providing readers with detailed theoretical and practical account of how to plan, implement, and evaluate the results of a photovoice project focused on urban youth.

Because researchers often treat baby boomers of color as belonging to one group, quality data on the individual status of specific racial populations is lacking, leading to insufficiently designed programs, policies, and services. The absence of data is a testament to the invisibility of baby boomers of color in society and deeply affects the practice of social work and other helping professions that require culturally sensitive approaches. Melvin Delgado rectifies this injustice by providing a comprehensive portrait of the status and unique assets of boomers of color. Using specific data, he grounds an understanding of boomers'financial, medical, and emotional needs within a historical, socioeconomic, cultural, and political context, resulting in tailored recommendations for meeting the challenges of a growing population. His research focuses on African American, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Native American older adults and addresses issues of financial security, employment stability, housing, and health care, which are often complicated by linguistic and cultural differences. Rather than treat baby boomers of color as a financial burden on society and its resources, Delgado recognizes their strengths and positive contributions to families and communities, resulting in an affirming and empowering approach to service.

Because researchers often treat baby boomers of color as belonging to one group, quality data on the individual status of specific racial populations is lacking, leading to insufficiently designed programs, policies, and services. The absence of data is a testament to the invisibility of baby boomers of color in society and deeply affects the practice of social work and other helping professions that require culturally sensitive approaches. Melvin Delgado rectifies this injustice by providing a comprehensive portrait of the status and unique assets of boomers of color. Using specific data, he grounds an understanding of boomers'financial, medical, and emotional needs within a historical, socioeconomic, cultural, and political context, resulting in tailored recommendations for meeting the challenges of a growing population. His research focuses on African American, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Native American older adults and addresses issues of financial security, employment stability, housing, and health care, which are often complicated by linguistic and cultural differences. Rather than treat baby boomers of color as a financial burden on society and its resources, Delgado recognizes their strengths and positive contributions to families and communities, resulting in an affirming and empowering approach to service.

A number of economic, cultural, and contextual factors are driving urban America's obesity crisis, which can create chronic health conditions for those least able to manage them. Considering urban obesity through a social justice lens, this book is the first to help social workers and others develop targeted interventions for effective outcomes. The text dissects the problem of urban obesity in populations of color from individual, family, group, community, and policy perspectives. Beginning with a historical survey of urban obesity in communities of color, anti-obesity policies and programs, and the role of social work in addressing this threat, the volume follows with an analysis of the social, ecological, environmental, and spatial aggravators of urban obesity, such as the food industry's advertising strategies, which promote unhealthy choices; the failure of local markets to provide good food options; the lack of safe exercise spaces; and the paucity of heath education. Melvin Delgado reviews recent national obesity statistics; explores the connection between food stamps and obesity; and reveals the financial and social consequences of the epidemic for society as a whole. He concludes with recommendations for effective health promotion programs, such as youth-focused interventions, community gardens, and community-based food initiatives, and a unique consideration of urban obesity in relation to acts of genocide and national defense.

A number of economic, cultural, and contextual factors are driving urban America's obesity crisis, which can create chronic health conditions for those least able to manage them. Considering urban obesity through a social justice lens, this book is the first to help social workers and others develop targeted interventions for effective outcomes. The text dissects the problem of urban obesity in populations of color from individual, family, group, community, and policy perspectives. Beginning with a historical survey of urban obesity in communities of color, anti-obesity policies and programs, and the role of social work in addressing this threat, the volume follows with an analysis of the social, ecological, environmental, and spatial aggravators of urban obesity, such as the food industry's advertising strategies, which promote unhealthy choices; the failure of local markets to provide good food options; the lack of safe exercise spaces; and the paucity of heath education. Melvin Delgado reviews recent national obesity statistics; explores the connection between food stamps and obesity; and reveals the financial and social consequences of the epidemic for society as a whole. He concludes with recommendations for effective health promotion programs, such as youth-focused interventions, community gardens, and community-based food initiatives, and a unique consideration of urban obesity in relation to acts of genocide and national defense.

The role and importance of assessment in development of health and social services are well accepted in the field, and represent the fundamental building blocks for the creation of any form of social intervention. Need assessments are, without question, the most common form of assessment in these fields. They typically, however, result in a rather narrow view of a community that stresses disease risk profiles and lists of various social problem categories. Nevertheless, unlike needs assessments, asset assessments bring a range of factors and considerations to the creation of an intervention that are guided by participatory democratic principles and processes. Although need assessments can also be guided by participatory principles, they generally are professionally-driven and do not stress capacity enhancement in the process. Asset assessments' emphasis on participatory democracy sufficiently distance themselves from their needs counterpart through the use of values, language used to communicate, and how research methods get conceptualized and carried out. Community asset assessments can be viewed as a goal; a strategy; a set of guiding principles; a method; and a process. These different perspectives make a consensus definition of a capital difficult to arrive at in both scholarly and practice realms. Consequently, it is best to view asset assessments from an evolutionary point of view in order to appreciate the variety of perspectives, tensions, and potential for achieving positive social change. In essence asset assessments are both an instrument of discovery as well as an intervention to achieve community change.

Latino small businesses provide social, economic, and cultural comfort to their communities. They are also excellent facilitators of community capacity-a major component of effective social work practice. Social work practitioners have a vested interest in seeing such businesses grow, not only among Latinos but all communities of color. Reviewing the latest research on formal and informal economies within urban communities of color, Melvin Delgado lays out the demographic foundations for a richer collaboration between theory and practice. Delgado deploys numerous case studies to cement the link between indigenous small businesses and community well-being. Whether regulated or unregulated, these establishments hire from within and promote immigrant self-employment. Latino small businesses often provide jobs for those whose criminal and mental health backgrounds intimidate conventional businesses. Recently estimated to be the largest group of color running small businesses in the United States, Latino owners top two million, with the number expected to double within the next few years. Joining an understanding of these institutions with the kind of practice that enables their social and economic improvement, Delgado explains how to identify and mobilize the kinds of resources that best spur their development.

Latino small businesses provide social, economic, and cultural comfort to their communities. They are also excellent facilitators of community capacity-a major component of effective social work practice. Social work practitioners have a vested interest in seeing such businesses grow, not only among Latinos but all communities of color. Reviewing the latest research on formal and informal economies within urban communities of color, Melvin Delgado lays out the demographic foundations for a richer collaboration between theory and practice. Delgado deploys numerous case studies to cement the link between indigenous small businesses and community well-being. Whether regulated or unregulated, these establishments hire from within and promote immigrant self-employment. Latino small businesses often provide jobs for those whose criminal and mental health backgrounds intimidate conventional businesses. Recently estimated to be the largest group of color running small businesses in the United States, Latino owners top two million, with the number expected to double within the next few years. Joining an understanding of these institutions with the kind of practice that enables their social and economic improvement, Delgado explains how to identify and mobilize the kinds of resources that best spur their development.

The United States correctional system is facing an urgent crisis in how to meet the health care needs of its prisoners. As the number of inmates in correctional facilities increases, prisons struggle to adequately address health care needs in a financially feasible way. Many prisoners enter the system with medical problems that have gone unmet, and the toxic environments inside the prisons further compromise their health, causing serious problems both within the prisons themselves and in society as a whole when the prisoners are released. Health and Health Care in the Nation's Prisons presents a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the health care challenges facing today's prisons along with concrete recommendations for change. In addition to an overview of the most common prison health care problems, this book provides a unique assessment of the needs of largely-overlooked prison populations, including women, people of color, and older adults. Authors Melvin Delgado and Denise Humm-Delgado cover high profile health care needs, such as substance abuse and mental illness, as well as lower profile needs like hepatitis and STDs. They also provide essential background information on the development of today's crisis by tracing the history of the U.S. health care system and how it has changed over time to meet social needs.

The subject of how best to address the current and future health needs of older adult residents in this country's urban marginalized communities is one that has also received considerable attention in academic, policy, and practice arenas in the past decade. A variety of models have been put forth to achieve the goal of health in these communities but one of the most promising recommendations has been the use of health promotion as a vehicle for reaching and empowering communities of color in both rural and urban America. Older adult-led interventions, as addressed in various sections of this book, is one of the latest and most promising approaches towards health promotion that is grass-roots and community participatory based. Older adult-led health promotion represents an emerging field with tremendous implications for addressing the health needs of marginalized urban older adults in the United States and international.

The introduction of innovative social paradigms that stress community-participation, community-focused empowerment, assets, social and economic justice themes, and in the case of youth, civic participation, represents one of the outcomes of this questioning and bodes well for current and future generations. The subject of how best to address the current and future health needs of this country's urban marginalized comunities is one that has also received considerable attention in academic, policy, and practice arenas in the past decade. A variety of models have been put forth to achieve the goal of health in these communities. One of the most promising recommendations has been the use of health promotion as a vehicle for reaching and empowering communities of color in both rural and urban America. The youth-led environmental justice movement, as it will be addressed in various sections of this book, is one of the latest and most promising approaches towards health promotion that is grass-roots and community participatory based. Youth-led health promotion represents an emerging field with tremendous implications for addressing the health needs of marginalized urban youth of color in the United States.

The introduction of innovative social paradigms that stress community-participation, community-focused empowerment, assets, social and economic justice themes, and in the case of youth, civic participation, represents one of the outcomes of this questioning and bodes well for current and future generations. The subject of how best to address the current and future health needs of this country's urban marginalized comunities is one that has also received considerable attention in academic, policy, and practice arenas in the past decade. A variety of models have been put forth to achieve the goal of health in these communities. One of the most promising recommendations has been the use of health promotion as a vehicle for reaching and empowering communities of color in both rural and urban America. The youth-led environmental justice movement, as it will be addressed in various sections of this book, is one of the latest and most promising approaches towards health promotion that is grass-roots and community participatory based. Youth-led health promotion represents an emerging field with tremendous implications for addressing the health needs of marginalized urban youth of color in the United States.

Youth-led organizing, a burgeoning movement that empowers young people while simultaneously enabling them to make substantive contributions to their communities, is increasingly receiving attention from scholars, activists, and the media. Melvin Delgado and Lee Staples, recognized leaders in social work macro practice and community organization, have produced the first comprehensive study of this dynamic field. Their well-organized book takes an important step toward bridging the gap between academic knowledge and community practice in this growing area. The authors social justice-rooted perspective on the fields conceptual and practical foundations is an effective basis for analyzing youth-led community organizing, but they also offer glimpses of successful groups in action and helpful insight into how fledgling organizations can become stronger. These groups and their young participants represent the politics and activism of the future, and Delgado and Staples have produced a lucid, thoughtful guide to their key aspects and recent developments that students and researchers of community organization, not to mention the organizers and their facilitators themselves, are sure to find both inspiring and useful.

The one-of-a-kind exploration of effective alcohol prevention and treatment for Latinos-now and for the future!By the year 2020, the Latino population in the United States will increase to 60 million, making up 18 percent of all residents. Latinos and Alcohol Use/Abuse Revisited: Advances and Challenges for Prevention and Treatment Programs brings into sharp focus how present and future demographic shifts in Latino population are being felt in alcohol programs across the United States. Case studies and in-depth research clearly illustrate the practical steps various culturally competent programs recommend to effectively deal with alcohol use, prevention, and treatment for Latinos.Alcohol abuse, though rampant in Latino populations, has not received the attention that other types of drug abuse has received, even though the death rates, health problems, and financial costs from alcohol are staggering. Latinos and Alcohol Use/Abuse Revisited presents respected authorities tackling the tough questions about demographics, culturally competent research, and effective prevention and treatment programs. The book provides an up-to-date socio-demographic foundation, then builds upon current research and information to present a clear picture of the needs of various Latino populations for alcohol abuse programs now and in the future.Latinos and Alcohol Use/Abuse Revisited discusses: the Latino demographic profilean overview patterns of need and treatment among Mexican-origin adults in central California alcohol abuse among Dominican-Americans the onset of alcohol and other drug use among gang members incarcerated Latinas, alcohol, and other drug abuse rural Latino grandparents raising grandchildren of substance abusing parents alcohol use among Puerto Rican active injecting drug users alcohol and other drug abuse prevention for high-risk youth a case study of a Puerto Rican community in Massachusetts detailed recommendations for prevention and treatmentLatinos and Alcohol Use/Abuse Revisited is a detailed examination of prevention and treatment programs for Latinos, invaluable for substance abuse professionals, social workers, practitioners, and professionals in charge of alcohol prevention and treatment programs.

The one-of-a-kind exploration of effective alcohol prevention and treatment for Latinos-now and for the future!By the year 2020, the Latino population in the United States will increase to 60 million, making up 18 percent of all residents. Latinos and Alcohol Use/Abuse Revisited: Advances and Challenges for Prevention and Treatment Programs brings into sharp focus how present and future demographic shifts in Latino population are being felt in alcohol programs across the United States. Case studies and in-depth research clearly illustrate the practical steps various culturally competent programs recommend to effectively deal with alcohol use, prevention, and treatment for Latinos.Alcohol abuse, though rampant in Latino populations, has not received the attention that other types of drug abuse has received, even though the death rates, health problems, and financial costs from alcohol are staggering. Latinos and Alcohol Use/Abuse Revisited presents respected authorities tackling the tough questions about demographics, culturally competent research, and effective prevention and treatment programs. The book provides an up-to-date socio-demographic foundation, then builds upon current research and information to present a clear picture of the needs of various Latino populations for alcohol abuse programs now and in the future.Latinos and Alcohol Use/Abuse Revisited discusses: the Latino demographic profilean overview patterns of need and treatment among Mexican-origin adults in central California alcohol abuse among Dominican-Americans the onset of alcohol and other drug use among gang members incarcerated Latinas, alcohol, and other drug abuse rural Latino grandparents raising grandchildren of substance abusing parents alcohol use among Puerto Rican active injecting drug users alcohol and other drug abuse prevention for high-risk youth a case study of a Puerto Rican community in Massachusetts detailed recommendations for prevention and treatmentLatinos and Alcohol Use/Abuse Revisited is a detailed examination of prevention and treatment programs for Latinos, invaluable for substance abuse professionals, social workers, practitioners, and professionals in charge of alcohol prevention and treatment programs.

While crime is down around the country, many inner city youth continue to die as a result of violence, drugs, AIDS, and other causes. In response to the deaths of its young members, many urban communities paint memorial murals to pay homage to the deceased and express the grief of an entire community. Here, Delgado explores the use of memorial murals for counseling the bereaved friends and family members of urban youth whose lives were cut short. He proposes that employing such approaches can help a community address the problems inherent in their societies while remembering and celebrating the lives of their most vulnerable members.Delgado begins by reviewing the key concepts and practice principles that are essential in any form of urban community social work practice. He details the incidence and nature of the phenomena of death at an early age, and describes the cultural aspects of grief and bereavement in general and as they pertain to the urban communities he observes. Throughout his discussion of the use of memorial murals in social work practice, he provides case studies about real communities and the ways in which they have used the murals to work through the grieving process. The book concludes with a framework and theoretical model for social workers who work with urban populations. This unique work addresses a common urban issue in the context of healing and outreach in a way that will especially appeal to social workers, community leaders and organizations, psychologists, urban sociologists, and students and scholars interested in the ways people deal with death and dying.