Dr. Mary Held is the Assistant Dean and MSSW Program Director of the Nashville campus. Dr. Held has dedicated her scholarship to strengthening knowledge related to trauma and resilience in immigrant communities.
How do you ensure cultural sensitivity and understanding in your work with diverse immigrant communities?
“I spent years working with diverse immigrant communities and learning from them as a volunteer and a practitioner before engaging in research. I’ve also spent time in Central America to better understand home country cultures of this subgroup of immigrants. As a researcher, I begin by communicating with key immigrant leaders and service providers to understand what types of research questions are culturally meaningful and important for specific immigrant communities. I then engage community members and leaders in all aspects of study design, data collection, and data analysis. I also continue to volunteer with immigrant provider organizations to continue learning and understanding how I can support their goals and the goals of immigrant communities through my role as a researcher.”
How do current immigration policies affect your work and the immigrant communities you serve?
“Immigration policies lay a core foundation for the experiences of immigrants within a given community. As a social worker and researcher, I explore the ways in which policies influence immigrant mental health and well-being, in addition to strategies to best support immigrants who have limited access to needed services.”
What advice would you give to other social workers or individuals who want to support the immigrant community?
“I love this question. I would encourage social workers to first learn about immigrant communities, including what drives individuals from a particular country to move to the U.S. These push factors often involve more than wanting a better life and can include fleeing for livelihood and survival from violence. Social workers can also meet with key leaders and provider organizations in their communities to learn more about immigrant services and ways to support the community. Social workers also are well positioned to advocate for inclusive policies that support not only immigrants but also their US-born children.”
What are your future goals or aspirations in your work with immigrants?
“One of my primary goals is to promote well-being, positive social integration, and thriving among immigrants in Tennessee. I believe gaining more knowledge regarding factors that foster individual, family, and community well-being is essential to informing service provision and policymaking. In addition, I hope to continue educating non-immigrants about immigrant communities. Immigrants benefit our communities in a wide range of ways, but we as a society often fail to see the cultural, social, and economic benefits.”
What changes do you hope to see in the coming years regarding the treatment and support of immigrants in Tennessee and the U.S.?
“I believe we can foster a more inclusive environment for immigrants and their children by supporting inclusive policies, such as affordable higher education, access to health care, and the ability to obtain a driver’s license. Many undocumented immigrants have US-citizen children but are not able to drive them to school, extracurricular activities, or medical appointments without the risk of arrest and deportation. In addition, I would like to see a more welcoming culture that promotes well-being and improved integration.”
How has working with immigrants influenced your perspective on social work and DEI?
“I’ve worked with immigrants for over 20 years and have worked with youth in Central America, as well. Knowing immigrant families well and witnessing the stressors and fears associated with the immigration process helps me to maintain a more humanistic perspective of how policies affect individuals. I adamantly believe in the value of diverse communities and the importance of learning from people with different backgrounds/experiences from my own. Working with immigrants – and having spent time in some of their countries as an outsider – is a key motivator for me to work towards establishing a welcoming environment that supports acceptance and promotes integration into society. Moving to a new country where the culture and language are new is an overwhelming experience that takes significant strength and resilience.”
Is there a message or insight you would like to share about the importance of supporting immigrant communities?
“Immigrants provide essential services for our communities. Getting to know immigrant neighbors can enrich each of our lives, while simultaneously fostering a welcoming and more integrated environment. “
Resources for to support Tennessee immigrant communities:
CentroHispano
Hola Lakeway
Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC)
Conexión Americas
Celebrate Nashville
This spotlight is brought to you by Jason Davis, in partnership with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work.