Cultural CompetenceCultural Competence

““Whenever people of different races come Whenever people of different races come together in groups, leaders can assume that together in groups, leaders can assume that race is an issue, but not necessarily a race is an issue, but not necessarily a problem.”problem.”

CULTURAL COMPETENCECULTURAL COMPETENCE

Developing cultural sensitivity:Developing cultural sensitivity:

Ability to perceive others through their own cultural Ability to perceive others through their own cultural lenslens

Knowledge of specific beliefs and values in the Knowledge of specific beliefs and values in the client’s communityclient’s community

Personal comfort with differencesPersonal comfort with differences

CULTURAL COMPETENCECULTURAL COMPETENCE

Developing cultural sensitivity (cont.):Developing cultural sensitivity (cont.):

Willingness to change previous ideas and stereotypesWillingness to change previous ideas and stereotypes

The ability to be flexible and adapt one’s thinking The ability to be flexible and adapt one’s thinking and behavior in novel settingsand behavior in novel settings

Skills to sort through diverse information about a Skills to sort through diverse information about a community in order to understand how it might apply community in order to understand how it might apply to particular individualsto particular individuals

Cultural CompetenceCultural CompetenceCultural competence can be learned.Cultural competence can be learned.

** ** Worker should engage inWorker should engage in

a process of self-explorationa process of self-exploration.** .**

Cultural CompetenceCultural Competence

Self-exploration of culture:Self-exploration of culture:

Have awareness of own cultural limitationsHave awareness of own cultural limitations

Open to cultural differencesOpen to cultural differences

Acknowledge the integrity of other culturesAcknowledge the integrity of other cultures

Social JusticeSocial Justice

Be intentional about having a diverse group Be intentional about having a diverse group membership – avoid tokenization of members.membership – avoid tokenization of members.

Separate psychological issues from socially Separate psychological issues from socially constructed biases that may appear as psychological constructed biases that may appear as psychological problems.problems.

Facilitate consciousness raising and creating an Facilitate consciousness raising and creating an awareness of social justice by processing issues of awareness of social justice by processing issues of oppression as they come up in group.oppression as they come up in group.

Use structured program activities to discuss issues of Use structured program activities to discuss issues of privilege and oppression.privilege and oppression.

Cultural CompetenceCultural Competence

Developing Cultural Sensitivity in Groups:Developing Cultural Sensitivity in Groups:

Explore feelings about own identity and how Explore feelings about own identity and how this might affect interaction with members this might affect interaction with members from other backgroundsfrom other backgrounds

- Values- Values

- Beliefs- Beliefs

- Skills- Skills

Cultural CompetenceCultural Competence

Developing Cultural Sensitivity in Groups Developing Cultural Sensitivity in Groups (cont.):(cont.):

- become familiar with backgrounds of - become familiar with backgrounds of client groups with whom you work with client groups with whom you work with

- research literature- research literature

- visit the cultural community- visit the cultural community

- interview key respondents- interview key respondents

- become participant observer- become participant observer

Cultural CompetenceCultural Competence

Developing Cultural Sensitivity in Groups Developing Cultural Sensitivity in Groups (cont.):(cont.):

** Acknowledge the effect of societal ** Acknowledge the effect of societal attitudes on members of diverse groups attitudes on members of diverse groups (prejudice, stereotyping, (prejudice, stereotyping, racism/discrimination, superiority, racism/discrimination, superiority, themes: race, class, age, ability, sexuality, themes: race, class, age, ability, sexuality, etc.) **etc.) **

Cultural CompetenceCultural Competence

Assessing Cultural Influences on Group Behavior:Assessing Cultural Influences on Group Behavior:

ParticipationParticipation

Interaction with sponsorship of groupInteraction with sponsorship of group

Optimize outreach effortsOptimize outreach efforts

How members from diverse groups relate to each How members from diverse groups relate to each other and the leaderother and the leader

Cultural CompetenceCultural Competence

Assessing Cultural Influences on Group Behavior:Assessing Cultural Influences on Group Behavior:

Assess: language, communication (verbal & Assess: language, communication (verbal & non-verbal), stylistic elements of non-verbal), stylistic elements of communication, nuances of message, communication, nuances of message, expectations, motivations for being in the expectations, motivations for being in the group, power and control dynamicsgroup, power and control dynamics

Cultural CompetenceCultural Competence

Intervening with cultural sensitivity:Intervening with cultural sensitivity:

Use social work values and skillsUse social work values and skillsUse strengths perspective Use strengths perspective Exploring common and different experiences Exploring common and different experiences among membersamong membersExploring meanings and languageExploring meanings and language

Cultural CompetenceCultural Competence

Intervening with cultural sensitivity:Intervening with cultural sensitivity:

Challenging prejudice and discriminationChallenging prejudice and discrimination

Advocating for membersAdvocating for members

Empowering membersEmpowering members

Using culturally appropriate techniques and Using culturally appropriate techniques and program activitiesprogram activities

Code of EthicsCode of Ethicsof the National Association of Social Workersof the National Association of Social Workers

Approved by the 1996 NASW Delegate Assembly and Approved by the 1996 NASW Delegate Assembly and revised by the 2008 NASW Delegate Assemblyrevised by the 2008 NASW Delegate Assembly

Value: Value: Social Justice Social Justice Ethical Principle: Ethical Principle: Social workers challenge social injustice. Social workers challenge social injustice.

Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people. Social workers’ social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, and groups of people. Social workers’ social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice. These activities seek to promote sensitivity unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice. These activities seek to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers strive to ensure access to to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers strive to ensure access to needed information, services, and resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful participation in decision needed information, services, and resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful participation in decision making for all people. making for all people.

Ethical StandardsEthical Standards 1.05 Cultural Competence and Social Diversity 1.05 Cultural Competence and Social Diversity (a) Social workers should understand culture and its function in human behavior and society, recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures.(a) Social workers should understand culture and its function in human behavior and society, recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures. (b) Social workers should have a knowledge base of their clients’ cultures and be able to demonstrate competence in the provision of services that are sensitive to clients’ (b) Social workers should have a knowledge base of their clients’ cultures and be able to demonstrate competence in the provision of services that are sensitive to clients’

cultures and to differences among people and cultural groups. cultures and to differences among people and cultural groups. (c) Social workers should obtain education about and seek to understand the nature of social diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, (c) Social workers should obtain education about and seek to understand the nature of social diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex,

sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical disability. sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical disability.

Ethical StandardsEthical Standards 6.01 Social Welfare 6.01 Social Welfare Social workers should promote the general welfare of society, Social workers should promote the general welfare of society,

from local to global levels, and the development of people, from local to global levels, and the development of people, their communities, and their environments. Social workers their communities, and their environments. Social workers should advocate for living conditions conducive to the should advocate for living conditions conducive to the fulfillment of basic human needs and should promote social, fulfillment of basic human needs and should promote social, economic, political, and cultural values and institutions that economic, political, and cultural values and institutions that are compatible with the realization of social justice. are compatible with the realization of social justice.

Ethical StandardsEthical Standards6.04 Social and Political Action (a) Social workers should engage in social and political action that seeks to ensure that all people have equal access to the resources, employment, services, and opportunities they require to meet their basic human needs and to develop fully. Social workers should be aware of the impact of the political arena on practice and should advocate for changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions in order to meet basic human needs and promote social justice. (b) Social workers should act to expand choice and opportunity for all people, with special regard for vulnerable, disadvantaged, oppressed, and exploited people and groups. (c) Social workers should promote conditions that encourage respect for cultural and social diversity within the United States and globally. Social workers should promote policies and practices that demonstrate respect for difference, support the expansion of cultural knowledge and resources, advocate for programs and institutions that demonstrate cultural competence, and promote policies that safeguard the rights of and confirm equity and social justice for all people. (d) Social workers should act to prevent and eliminate domination of, exploitation of, and discrimination against any person, group, or class on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, or mental or physical disability.