Approaches to Multicultural Group Work Chapter 5 Group Work Practice Approaches to Multicultural Group Work Chapter 5 1. Engage in ongoing self-assessment and assessment of the group, its members and their environment 2. Anticipate potential sources of tension in composing the groups, in formulating the purpose and in structuring the group’s work together Intervene at the individual, group and environment levels to promote harmony and understanding; to resolve racial, ethnic and cultural issues and to involve members in confronting and resolving problems within and outside the group

Developing Cultural Sensitivity Effective ways of developing cultural sensitivity include: Group leader self-exploration Acquiring knowledge of group member self-identity Social Mapping Group leader aware of and open to cultural differences Awareness of how society views and treats different social and cultural classes DEVELOPING CULTURAL SENSITIVITY The terms identity and culture are often used to refer to the many ways people can differ. To develop a perspective on effective work with people of diverse cultural backgrounds, the group leader should engage in a process of self-exploration. Workers who are culturally competent have an awareness of their own cultural limitations are open to cultural differences and acknowledge the integrity of other cultures Worker can be more culturally sensitive by exploring their feelings about their own identity Leaders can also benefit from knowledge about how members define and identify themselves Social Mapping- in which formal and informal relationships among members of a community are systematically observed and analyzed Leaders should be open to the differences exhibited by diverse cultures It is also important to acknowledge the effect of societal attitudes on members of diverse groups. Leaders should keep in mind that members of minority groups continually experience prejudice, stereotyping and overt and institutional discrimination

Assessing Cultural Influences Cultural backgrounds of group members influence group participation Ask yourself: How does each member relate to other members and to group leader? How does the context in which the group member was born and raised influence behavior within the group? What factors can interfere with worker ability to assess how culture affects member behavior? ASSESSING CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON GROUP BEHAVIOUR It is important for the group leader to recognize that the cultural backgrounds of member can have a profound effect on how they participate in the group When composing a diverse group the worker should consider how members from differing cultural groups are likely to relate to each other and to the leader. A complete assessment of group members should consider the larger environmental context in which members live and how that context can influence behaviour within the group Several factors can interfere with the process of learning about how cultural background affects members’ behaviour in the group. (1) The leader may fail to recognize that cultural differences exist or may diminish their importance (2)The leader may also fail to recognize differences among members of the same cultural group by assuming that all members of that culture have common behavioural characteristics (3) The leader should assess how members’ backgrounds are likely to affect the way they experience communication and interaction pattern, cohesion, social control and the overall group culture. The leader should be sensitive to how members from diverse back grounds experience power and control within the group.

Cultural Sensitivity Several factors can interfere with the process of learning about how cultural background affects members’ behaviour in the group. Leader may fail to recognize that cultural differences exist or may diminish their importance Leader may fail to recognize differences among members of the same cultural group by assuming that all members have common behavioral characteristics

Cultural Sensitivity Attempt to: Assess how the backgrounds of group members affect group communication, interaction, cohesion and social control Be sensitive to power dynamics within the group Leader should assess how members’ backgrounds are likely to affect the way they experience communication and interaction pattern, cohesion, social control and the overall group culture. The leader should be sensitive to how members from diverse back grounds experience power and control within the group.

Sensitive Intervention There are many ways for group leaders to intervene with sensitivity to issues of diversity in the group Using social work values and skills Using a strengths perspective Exploring common and different experiences among members Exploring meaning and language Challenging prejudice and discrimination Advocating for members Empowering members Using culturally appropriate techniques and program activities INTERVENING WITH SENSITIVITY TO DIVERSITY There are many ways for group leaders to intervene with sensitivity to issues of diversity in the group Using social work values and skills Using a strengths perspective Exploring common and different experiences among members Exploring meaning and language Challenging prejudice and discrimination Advocating for members Empowering members Using culturally appropriate techniques and program activities