Ninth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

This paper shares findings from an oral history case study of mothers of school-age children who have moved from Puerto Rico to a city in the lower New England region of the United States. The research sought to give voice to the experiences of families of English learners in public schools in order to understand the broader educational and public health needs of such families. In the qualitative methodological tradition of testimonia, mothers were interviewed in Spanish and asked to reflect upon their own experiences related to the cultural transitions and challenges associated with relocating from Puerto Rico. Interviews were recorded on video, transcribed, translated into English, and analyzed using techniques associated with grounded theory. Emergent themes focused on access and barriers to medical and social service resources, as well as conceptions of quality of life that challenge mainstream stereotypes of mainland and English-monolingual U. S. culture. Findings indicate the critical role of medical and social service resources in the lives of these families, that such resources constitute a primary attractor in the decision to relocate, and that many barriers exist to effective access and utilization of such resources. Implications include the need to streamline access to key resources, and for providers, including educators, to have greater awareness of the sociolinguistic context of families and children. Additionally, alternative conceptions of quality of life should be given greater voice in order to challenge deficit-thinking often implicit in hegemonic social narratives.