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 competenceMulticultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (2)

Multidimensional Model of Cultural Competence in Social

WorkDimensions

Worldviews of Cultural Groups (Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation, etc.)

Components of Cultural Competence(Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills)

Foci of Cultural CompetenceMulticultural 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 groupsMulticultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (2)