In planning for the health needs of these immigrant families, Francesca Weissman, a healthcare practitioner, asked two questions: “What are the most urgent needs of this population?” and “How can this population be induced to use the health services that are available?” In some respects, the second question is more important because persuading immigrant families to utilize services is a basic problem.

Building trust is a primary goal. Employing caregivers who can speak the clients’ language will do much to lower ethnic barriers and reduce suspicion on the part of the potential clients. Many traditional families are slow to develop personal relationships, and this holds true in the interactions with caregivers. Unless the families can communicate with caregivers, they cannot begin to trust them. Without trust, they are not likely to seek or even accept assistance.

Communication is a two-way channel. Caregivers, Francesca realized, have an obligation to become acquainted with the culture of the growing ethnic populations, and of their diverse subgroups. By becoming informed and by conveying respect, caregivers can make interactions with immigrant families less frightening and more productive. Awareness of the economic climate and other conditions in the place of origin helps caregivers recognize that the suspiciousness of immigrant families towards officials may not be wholly irrational.

A family approach to health care is recommended for immigrant groups. If the whole family can be in-volved in the healthcare program, the individual members are likely to be less fearful. Family-oriented pro-grams may begin with practical advice about the neighborhood: locations of grocery stores, where to ap-ply for food stamps, and how to look for work. Any programs developed for immigrant families must be offered at convenient times and places because they may not have the knowledge or resources to travel freely in their new community.

Which of the following is important when the family approach is adopted?