SW 840 Week 13

Course Objectives 1. Identify practice issues related to human diversity, behaviors & attitudes that interfere with effective SW practice across multicultural lines & ideas & intervention strategies to counter oppression & discrimination.

Expand critical understanding of professional values that foster ethical & effective SW practice. 3. Explore both sides of controversial, ethics-related issues and sharpen skills needed to take a stand on a controversial issue & build a logical argument.

Social Worker’s Characteristics Race Matters Social Worker’s Characteristics

Social Justice Collect racial/ethnic data On behalf of our clients Address inequalities

Why race instead of culture? Culture can be All values, norms, knowledge, behavior patterns, and artifacts that are transmitted from one generation to the next and form a way of life of a people

Middle class norms/values Any different for middle class Latina/os Asian Americans Native Americans African Americans Persons who are LGBT

Social science researchers and practitioners (social workers) in spite of their years of training and education are no less likely to be affected by American racism than is the common man [person] (Sue, 1999).

Power and Privilege Support oppression - Which is the pervasive,systematic and institutionalized racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism (physical and mental)……..

Mental Health Outcomes Asian Americans - highest suicide rate 65+ teenage girls - highest rates depression Latinas - teenage girls highest rates suicide AI/AN - higher rates depression, sub abuse

Child Welfare Outcomes Native Americans\Alaskan African American more likely to be reported, substantiated, placed in foster care, reenter foster care

Why not ask about race? Fear of being offensive Color blindness Ignorant of significance of difference

Clients desires Finally - it is all about our clients What do our consumers want? Do they care what their SW thinks or Their race, gender, sexual orientation?

American Indian study Almost two thirds reported uncomfortable talking with Whites about personal issues African American – fear stigma and have trust issues with MH providers Asian-American women preferred gender and ethnic match Some Latinos prefer Latino counselor

Cultural Competence Race and ethnicity have an impact on professional relations A client with a worker of a different ethnicity may assume that the worker will not understand the client’s world. Workers often have a poorer opinion of those clients whom they see as having significantly different views from themselves

Improving Cultural Competence Learning and self examination critical Learn about culture of client Examine one’s own beliefs, values, and culture Interventions – European/middle class

Working with Latinos When assessing clients explore ethnicity. Assess influence of culture and how the person’s community can be helpful.

Assessment includes issues of national origin, birthplace, immigration experience, length of time in the country, language preference, and the meaning of being Latino.

Anti-Racism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFIrz1K1DOs