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

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)

3. 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)

4. 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)

5. 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)

6. 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)

7. 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)

8. 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)

9. 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)