Working With The AMISH WHO ARE THE AMISH

Working With The AMISH

WHO ARE THE AMISH? • Considered by most to be conservative Christians – not a cult • Founded by Jacob Amman in Switzerland in 1693 as a split from the Mennonite movement • First Amish arrived in America in 1736 and settled in Pennsylvania • Almost all members are born into and raised in the faith. Some Amish groups have a very restricted gene pool and are experiencing several inherited disorders as a result.

HIGHER THAN AVERAGE FARM RELATED FATALATIES • More children working on the farm • More families involved in agriculture • Common to use older farm equipment • More Amish beginning to use skid steers

DIVERSITY AMONG THE AMISH • • • Old Order New Order Beachy Amish Mennonites Many subgroups with different rules

WHY DO AMISH SEEM “OLD-FASHIONED”? • Life governed by the “Ordnung” = German for “Order” • Most Amish groups forbid: • Owning cars • Using public electrical utility lines • Self-propelled farm machinery • Owning a television, radio, or computer • Attending a high school or college • Joining the military • Initiating divorce • Personal photos

Technology • Not “anti-technology” • “Negotiated cultural compromises” (Kraybill) • Proactive approach to accepting new technology o “Where will this lead us? ” o Decisions by local bishops

Farm Technology • Value of labor-intensive work vs. mass production • Concern about self-propelled machinery used for transportation • Stewards of the land

WHERE ARE THE AMISH FOUND? 28 States Province of Ontario, Canada

SRAP STATES BY AMISH POPULATION (2015) Ohio Pennsylvania Indiana Wisconsin Michigan Missouri Kentucky Illinois 69, 255 68, 820 50, 955 17, 665 14, 495 11, 230 11, 010 7, 280 Tennessee Kansas Nebraska Colorado Maine North Carolina South Dakota Texas 2, 750 2, 025 810 675 135 95 75

GUIDELINES FOR WORKING WITH THE AMISH COMMUNITY

INDIVIDUALIZE THE AMISH CLIENT • Determine which Amish group the family belongs to • Remember that Amish persons value face-to-face relationships • Amish clients may ask personal questions of the professional • Don’t be concerned if formal titles are not used to address you

START WHERE THE AMISH CLIENT IS, AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER • Acknowledge Amish values, beliefs, customs, and attitudes. • Modify service delivery to accommodate Amish preferences and to overcome the barriers of distance, technology choices, and cost.

AMISH AND AGRABILITY AS A GOVERNMENT PROJECT • Separation of church and state o. Reticence in accepting free literature

Observe Amish holidays and respect Sunday as a day of rest. • Public holidays • Thanksgiving • New Year’s Day • Amish religious holidays • • • Christmas Easter Good Friday Easter Monday (day after Easter) Second Christmas (December 26) “Old Christmas” (January 6) Ascension Day (39 days after Easter) Pentecost Fall Fast Day (October 11)

MOVE AT THE AMISH CLIENT’S PACE • Remember the pace of Amish life is slow • Learn the art of “chit-chat” • Don’t rush the conversation, and allow enough time for discussion of an issue

• Remember that language is not a barrier between Amish and non-Amish, except for preschool children who may not speak English

REMEMBER THE AMISH CLIENT’S RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION • Involve Amish bishops or other representatives in planning programs and services targeted at the Amish community.

ABOVE ALL, TREAT AMISH CLIENTS WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT • Recognize the patriarchal nature of Amish society, but also be aware that Amish women will participate in decision making. • Dress modestly, especially when visiting an Amish home.

ABOVE ALL, TREAT AMISH CLIENTS WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT • Speak with a soft voice and do not use jargon or slang unless it is commonly used in the local Amish community. • Allow a comfortable physical space between you and the Amish client. • Avoid physical touch, especially between genders, unless appropriate and necessary for professional care.