WEEK 6: AT A GLANCE

CULTURAL AWARENESS IN SOCIAL WORK

INTRODUCTION

What does cultural competence really mean?

Some social workers argue that the focus on “cultural competence” creates an expectation that cultural competence equals an end state that can be achieved once one has acquired all of the knowledge and skills related to practicing with a specific group. This conceptualization ignores the influence of intersectional identities on an individual’s unique cultural experience and positions the social worker as “expert in the other,” often resulting in reinforcement of stereotypical thinking.

Social work as a profession has begun shifting to the concept of cultural awareness and the use of cultural humility. These concepts recognize that the client is the expert in their own cultural experience and that the social worker must take a humble approach as a constant learner. In addition, social workers need to recognize the institutional and historic discrimination that influence the social experience of a cultural group identity.

This week, you examine the importance of cultural awareness within social work practice and the skills necessary for incorporating it into practice with diverse populations. You also interview a diverse individual and present on your experience.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will:

Analyze cultural awareness in social work practice

Analyze skills for addressing barriers to cultural awarenessAnalyze skill application when working with varied clients

Week 6: Discussion

CULTURAL AWARENESS IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

In order to become a practitioner who addresses the diverse needs of your clients in a sensitive and respectful manner, you must be dedicated to continued education around the needs and experiences of different groups, religions, ethnicities, and other populations. The first step is to identify any personal biases and perceptions you might have about other cultures. From a broader perspective, how might an individual’s culture, race, ethnicity, disability, or sexual orientation affect how society perceives and treats them? Which potential social structures may perpetuate the oppression and marginalization of certain groups? The most important attribute you can bring to this topic is an open mind and a willingness to learn about others unlike yourself and ask how they want to be treated by you as a social worker. In this Discussion, you consider these topics in relation to a case study depicting issues in cultural competence.

RESOURCES

Required Readings

Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2018). Empowerment series: Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.). CENGAGE Learning.

Chapter 12, “Culturally Competent Social Work Practice” (pp. 466–498)

Chapter 13, “Gender-Sensitive Social Work Practice” (pp. 499–543)

Azzopardi, C., McNeill, T. (2016). From cultural competence to cultural consciousness: Transitioning to a critical approach to working across differences in social work.Links to an external site. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 25(4), 282–299. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313204.2016.1206494

Fisher-Borne, M., Cain, J. M., Martin, S. L. (2015). From mastery to accountability: Cultural humility as an alternative to cultural competenceLinks to an external site. Social Work Education, 34(2), 165–181. doi:10.1080/02615479.2014.977244

Hook, J. N., Farrell, J. E., Davis, D. E., DeBlaere, C., Van Tongeren, D. R., & Utsey, S. O. (2016). Cultural humility and racial microaggressions in counselingLinks to an external site.. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63(3), 269–277. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000114

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.

HELLO, THIS DISCUSSION QUESTION WILL BE 250 WORD COUNT USING TEXTBOOK REFERENCES. I HAVE ALSO ADDED ANOTHER STUDENT PAPER TO HELP YOU PUT YOUR WORK TOGETHER IT’S ONLY A SAMPLE PAPER NOT TO BE USED AT ALL. I HAVE ALSO ATTACHED ALL THE READING MATERIAL THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT. THERE ARE NO VIDEOS TO THIS ASSIGNMENT ONLY READING

TO PREPARE

Review this week’s Learning Resources, including the videos, and then reflect on the following:

1.
What is your definition of cultural competency?

2.
What skills do you think are necessary for attaining cultural competence as a social worker working with that population?

3.
What is the difference between having knowledge about a cultural group and engaging with an individual from the stance of cultural humility?

Then, search the Walden Library for additional information that supports the skills you selected.

For help with this discussion, please refer back to the Library recommendations in Week 3.

Helpful hint: Try using different keywords including:

cultural intelligence

cultural sensitivity

cultural humility

cultural competence

cultural literacy

Add the keyword “skills” to find articles on specific skills that promote cultural awareness in social work practice.

Post a response to the following.

4.
Provide your definition of cultural humility.

5.
Explain how this is similar or different to how the Kirst-Ashman and Hull textbook describes cultural competence.

6.
Explain the skills you think are necessary for developing cultural awareness as a social worker.

Support your post with examples from the course text and any other resources used to respond to this Discussion. Demonstrate that you have completed the required readings, understand the material, and are able to apply the concepts. Include a full reference of resources at the bottom of the post.