By:  Ismay Griffith, LCSW, President and Co-Founder of Caribbean American Social Work Association, Inc.  (December 2006/ January 2007)

The Caribbean American Social Workers Association, Inc. (CASWA) is a professional organization incorporated on November 21, 2003. Membership consists of professionals drawn from the public and private sectors who are committed to enhancing the social functioning of Caribbean Americans and improving the social status of the Caribbean American community and the Caribbean region.

The major thrust of CASWA is to promote the professional advancement of the fast growing number of Caribbean American social workers, other social service providers and those who serve the Caribbean people. We strive to address the social needs of the Caribbean American community and the Caribbean region. As we pursue these goals, we recognize the importance of understanding the challenges of immigrants in general.

CASWA emerged in response to the realization of the need to share the fulfillment of serving our diverse ethnic communities. Owing to its proximity to the United States, the Caribbean region is often referred to as the third border. People from the Caribbean migrate to the US for a better way of life. Not unlike other immigrants, they are in search of the American dream. Caribbean migration has transformed New York’s geographic, demographic, political, linguistic, socio-economic and cultural landscape. As helping professionals we are cognizant of adjustment problems as well as their contributions to the development of their adopted home.

Today’s sophisticated technological advancements such as the internet and cell phones have strengthened the communication between the Caribbean communities at home and abroad. The transnational status of many of these immigrants presents both risks and opportunities. Better understanding of the impact of the migration process on social well-being is crucial. In this context, CASWA serves to make significant contributions in addressing the myriad socio-economic, public health and culture-related problems confronted by the Caribbean-American community.

While many Caribbean immigrants come to the US as a family unit, there are those who come as individuals, often separated from their parents, children, spouses or significant others. The impact of separation and loss experienced by immigrants and their loved ones when they have to relinquish important connections is astronomical, invariably causing serious mental health and economic difficulties. The difficulties of adjusting to a new way of life are sometimes manifested in the incidence of neglect and abuse of children and seniors, domestic violence, human trafficking and other problems. Some problems, such as gang involvement, arise out of a need to compensate for deficiencies and develop a sense of belonging

The organization provides opportunities for professionals to deliver culturally competent services in the community to address health and general welfare needs. We provide forums for our membership, other organizations and the public that facilitate sharing of information and the development of expertise to address major health and mental health needs of the community. Since its inception CASWA has conducted cultural sensitivity trainings and workshops. Areas of focus include education on child abuse; the new immigration laws addressing issues of illegal immigrants; domestic violence; HIV/AIDS; depression and spirituality; cancer awareness; sickle cell anemia and childhood obesity with concerns about the dietary practices that result in high incidence of hypertension and heart diseases. CASWA also coordinated a workshop for social workers on the new legislation on social work licensure.

Our members engage in research in order to support the development and implementation of culturally sensitive intervention strategies to address identified issues. CASWA has initiated and maintains professional alliances to promote collaborative activities among private and public entities to enhance the organization’s capacity to implement its mission.

On the international front, the organization has responded to a number of crises that have emerged in the Caribbean over the past five years. Members of CASWA collaborated with other organizations to conduct trainings on various social and health topics in the Caribbean. The countries of Guyana and Grenada have particularly benefited from crisis intervention provided by CASWA’s response to the critical social, economic and mental health issues that resulted from hurricane and flood disasters. CASWA was represented in these countries by teams of New York based professionals.