Becoming Culturally Competent in Social Work Practice Chapter 2 Becoming Culturally Competent in Social Work Practice Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (2)

Defining Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice the process by which individuals and systems respond respectfully and effectively to people of all culture, languages, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and other diversity factors in a manner that recognizes, affirms, and values the work with individuals, families, and communities and protects and preserves the dignity of each --National Association of Social Workers, 2001 (bold Italics added) Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (2)

Four Components of Cultural Competence: Become aware of assumptions about human behavior, values, biases, and preconceived notions Attempt to understand the worldview of culturally diverse clients Actively develop and practice appropriate, relevant, and sensitive intervention strategies and skills Understand how organizational and institutional forces may enhance or negate the development of cultural competence Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (2)

Multidimensional Model of Cultural Competence in Social Work Dimensions Worldviews of Cultural Groups (Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation, etc.) Components of Cultural Competence (Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills) Foci of Cultural Competence Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (2)

Dimension I: Group-Specific Worldviews Consider the worldviews of all cultural groups along the lines of: Race/ethnicity (African Americans, Asian Americans, etc.) Sexual orientation (Gays, Straights, Lesbians, Bisexuals, etc.) Gender (Women) Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (2)

Dimension II: Components of Cultural Competence Awareness Aware and sensitive to his/her own cultural heritage and to valuing and respecting differences Knowledge Of the history, experiences, cultural values, and lifestyles of sociodemographic groups Skills Generate a wide variety of verbal and nonverbal responses Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (2)

Dimension III: Foci of Social Work Interventions Intervene effectively at the: individual, professional, organizational, and societal levels Social work operates in the: micro, mezzo and macro levels of intervention Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (2)

Implications for Social Work Practice Understand terminology Be vigilant (e.g. emotional reactions) Identify culture-specific and university domains of helping Know that: Western concepts and practices may not apply to cultural groups Euro-American healing standards originated from cultural context Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (2)

Implications for Social Work Practice Cultural competence is more inclusive than clinical competence Learn to play other roles than conventional caseworker Realize that organizational/institutional policies, practices and structures may be oppressive Use culturally consistent modalities Know that MCSW includes ALL groups Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (2)