Abstract
Providing quality social services and healthcare in the United States requires the recognition of a population that is increasingly diverse in their ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The Arab American population in the United States is one such ethnic minority population that requires unique attention. The Arab American community consists of many subcultures that are diverse in ethnicities, religious practices, political histories, social affiliations, migration experiences, and acculturation processes. In order for social workers to effectively assist individuals and families from Arab backgrounds, we must recognize the diversity within these communities and not assume that all Arab Americans share monolithic social histories. It is also important to identify the protective factors that Arab American communities share in terms of their family support, religious beliefs, educational values, resiliency, and collectivist culture. In the current political climate, Arab Americans additionally face social and political oppression, discrimination, negative stereotypes, and prejudice. This chapter highlights both the strengths of Arab American families and the challenges they face, as well as outlines recommendations for clinical social work practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)