Editorial: The Impact of the Trump Administration on Families in the United States

¡Pásale!: Gaining Entrance to Conduct Research and Practice With Recent Hispanic Immigrants: Lessons Learned From the COPAL Study

Given the rapidly changing political rhetoric and policies concerning immigration, and the likely impact of this rhetoric on immigrants' adjustment, it is essential to understand the experiences of recently arrived immigrant individuals and families. This article describes methods to recruit and retain recently arrived Hispanic families in longitudinal research and clinical practice. Barriers to continued engagement with recent-immigrant families include residential mobility, wariness toward authority figures (including researchers and practitioners), and unpredictable work schedules. These barriers can lead to challenges related to recruitment/engagement, logistics, establishing trust, and retention. This article describes decisions made, experiences, and lessons learned in a longitudinal study of Hispanic families in two cities. We also provide implications for clinical practice.

"Always Thinking About Safety": African American Lesbian Mothers' Perceptions of Risk and Well-being

Although there is a growing body of knowledge focusing on lesbian families and their parenting experiences, African American lesbian mothers are often underrepresented in research. This qualitative exploratory study aims to understand the constructions and perspectives of African American lesbian mothers, from an urban East Coast area, on risk and well-being. Fifteen in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed at the end of 2016, coinciding with the presidential election yielding main themes that were significant for the participants pertaining to the mothers' experiences and construction of the challenges and risks to well-being. Main themes first focused on discrimination and insensitivity in everyday spaces; then moved into the effects of political climate on perceived safety and security, conditions and unintended consequences of the coming out process; and ended with strategies for reducing risk. Adoption of an intersectional framework to discuss our findings allowed us to explore the ways in which multiple identities engage to shape experiences and constructions of risk and well-being among African American lesbian parents. The results suggest the importance of context (e.g., political, historical, gender-related, racial) when working with LGBTQ+ families of color.

The Experiences of Couple/Marriage and Family Therapists of color: A Survey Analysis

The family therapy literature documenting the experiences of couple/marriage and family therapists (C/MFTs) of color as a group is limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the status of C/MFTs of color in their clinical training programs, clinical work, and related areas of professional challenges and opportunities. Participants (N = 113) completed a one-time, anonymous electronic survey on SurveyMonkey consisting of demographic questions, closed- and open-ended questions about their experiences. Key findings are reported related to C/MFTs of color experiences in training programs, areas of professional need, and working with racial and/or ethnic minority clients. These findings shed light on how social justice principles and practices upheld in our field are experienced from the emic perspectives of C/MFTs of color. These voices help to broaden our understanding of how we might move forward in advocating for and advancing a more culturally responsive agenda within our profession.

Social Justice and Race in the United States: Key Issues and Challenges for Couple and Family Therapy

Social justice tends to be narrowly defined as equality without due recognition of human dignity and respect for those whose daily lives continue to be adversely impacted by race. This article seeks to explore key issues and challenges at the intersection of social justice and race for couple and family therapy. These include: (a) defining social justice; (b) diversity and inclusion; (c) power and privilege; (d) witness; and (e) personal responsibility.