Yes I Can, (Sí, Yo Puedo): An Empowerment Program for Immigrant Latina Women in Group Settings

The Sí, Yo Puedo (SYP) program manual is a step-by-step, culturally specific, 11-week curriculum for Spanish-English graduate level licensed mental health professionals (e.g., clinical social workers, professional counselors, family and marriage therapists, psychologists). Sí, Yo Puedo is Yes, I Can in English. The empowerment program is designed to provide education, promote self-esteem, prevent domestic violence, and help readers understand healthy relationships within a cultural framework. Participants meet weekly for two hours and examine topics addressing issues related to immigrant Latina women's sense of self, characteristics of healthy relationships and dating, keys to understanding the dynamics of domestic violence, and ways to access resources. The program manual includes structured sessions with goals and objectives, in-class self-reflection drawing and writing exercises, and handouts for the weekly topics. Upon completion of the SYP program, immigrant Latinas and Latinas in general will be empowered to examine current relationships and their self-esteem, and to potentially make changes in their lives.

Table of Contents:
Preface Introduction to the Program Chapter 1: Development of the SYP Curriculum Chapter 2: Understanding Domestic Violence among Immigrant Latina Women Chapter 3: Theoretical Background Chapter 4: Group Format and Group Work Chapter 5: SYP Curriculum, Weekly Sessions, Instruction, and Activities Bibliography Appendix A: Sample of Resources in the State of Minnesota Appendix B: National Websites and Phone Numbers on Domestic Violence Appendix C: Teen Dating Wheel Appendix D: Characteristics of Healthy Relationships Appendix E: Equality Wheel Appendix F: Power and Control Wheel Appendix G: Safety Planning Worksheet

About the Author :
Catherine Luz Marrs Fuchsel, PhD, LICSW, LCSW, MSW, is a faculty member in the Morrison Family College of Health, School of Social Work at the University St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. She teaches in the graduate program and is a bilingual Spanish-English Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). Originally from Lima, Peru, she has over 25 years of direct practice experience working with Latinx/o families across the country. Dr. Marrs Fuchsel's research focuses on the prevention and intervention of domestic violence among immigrant Latinas.

Review :
"Yes, I Can not only provides the steps toward implementation of the intervention but also gives the reader an understanding of all the environmental factors that impact this population and their services. Overall, the book structure was clear and well conceptualized. The fact that the author shares her Latino experience as an immigrant woman in the United States and recognizes her social location in intersectionality-as a woman, educated, on the side of providing services-not receiving them, and bilingual-provides credibility and assertiveness through her unique position in identifying with some of the characteristics of the target population. The book is well designed for practitioners in social work, psychology, psychiatry, and other mental health professionals by offering an intervention for a population that is underrepresented and lacking a presence in the clinical literature." -- Yamile M. Marti´Haidar, Columbia University, Journal of Women and Social Work "This manual is well written and of high quality. The author who is a Latina immigrant herself and who is bilingual/bicultural demonstrates excellent knowledge of the Latino culture, values, beliefs and customs, and how they may affect immigrant Latina women who are dealing with intimate partner violence. She is equally knowledgeable of the domestic violence framework having many years of clinical practice experience with abused Latina immigrants." -Social Work With Groups "The manual will be an excellent resource for social workers, group workers, domestic violence advocates and mental health professionals in community-based social service agencies who work with immigrant Latina women....It takes us one step forward in our understanding of culturally competent group work practice and research with this growing population." -Social Work With Groups