AbstractsSocial Work

Former Hmong refugees in Sacramento County: perceptions of their acculturation and assimilation issues

by Che Cha




Institution: California State University – Sacramento
Department: Social Work
Degree: MSW
Year: 2015
Keywords: Immigrant; Social work; Acculturation; Assimilation
Record ID: 2061391
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/138625


Abstract

Acculturation can be defined as transformations people experience as a result of contact with culturally different perceptions and when two or more cultures come in contact. Assimilation can be defined as a process of boundary reduction that can occur in which persons of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds interact. This research Project explored acculturation and assimilation difficulties of former Hmong refugees in Sacramento County, California. Former Hmong refugees that attended the Sacramento Hmong New Year were recruited as sample subjects. Findings indicated that 65.7% the former refugee received some type of education besides English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, and 34.3% did not receive any education. Furthermore, a social work implication is law makers??? ability and motivation to continue to pass policies supporting the many programs that work to help strengthen the refugees to adjust to mainstream society.