Social workers need
to be able to move from being aware of their own cultural heritage to becoming aware of the cultural heritage of
others. This cultural awareness enables them to value and celebrate differences in others as well as to demonstrate comfort with cultural differences.
Embracing Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice
Social workers are likely to encounter ideas, beliefs or traditions they are unfamiliar with. Through cultural competence, they can
learn to navigate those differences to help clients overcome barriers to obtaining health care
and other services.
Cultural competency allows
social workers to become more attuned with and sensitive to individual, family, and group specific needs, values, beliefs, and attitudes
in order to provide more culturally competent interventions, services and supports.
These cultural orientations affect how individuals understand, express, and respond to issues of health and well-being, illness, relationships, and functioning. … It is important that the social worker
gains awareness into her or his own culture and understands
how this influences work with clients.
Culturally competent social workers are
vital to the well-being of the community and the people they serve
. They identify problematic situations and unfair societal boundaries, transcend language barriers and understand the nuance of family dynamics across ethnicities.
- Service.
- Social justice.
- Dignity and worth of the person.
- Importance of human relationships.
- Integrity.
- Competence.
- Spend some time getting to know the service user, do not rush meetings and interventions.
- Be continually aware of the social work values you have signed up to as a social worker.
- Be self-aware – remember your personal cultural values and beliefs.
Social workers
help relieve people’s suffering, fight for social justice, and improve lives and communities
. … These pioneers laid the path for social workers of today. They set a great example for our commitment to advocacy, social justice, and helping individuals, families, and communities who need us most.
What do you mean by cultural sensitivity?
Cultural Sensitivity is defined as:
a)
Being aware that cultural differences and similarities between people exist without assigning them a
value – positive or negative, better or worse, right or wrong.
How do you practice cultural sensitivity?
- Think beyond race and ethnicity. A person’s culture is shaped by more than the color of their skin or the way that they dress. …
- Learn by asking. …
- Make local connections. …
- Pay attention to non-verbal behaviors. …
- Exchange stories.
How do you become culturally competent?
- Learn about yourself. Get started by exploring your own historical roots, beliefs and values, says Robert C. …
- Learn about different cultures. …
- Interact with diverse groups. …
- Attend diversity-focused conferences. …
- Lobby your department.
What defines cultural diversity?
Cultural Diversity is
the existence of a variety of cultural groups within a society
. Cultural groups can share many different characteristics. … Culture, religion, ethnicity, language, nationality, sexual orientation, class, gender, age, disability, health differences, geographic location and lots of other things.
How do you practice cultural humility?
Some practical ways to grow cultural humility include: 1)
Intrapersonal: Intentionally engage in self-critique and reflexivity to
recognize and accept biases and assumptions 2) Interpersonal: Engage in mindful active listening where clinicians ask genuine open-ended questions of the people they encounter to understand …
As a profession, Social Work acknowledges that the term cultural implies
integrated patterns of diverse and unique human behaviour including attitudes, thoughts, communications
, actions, traditions, customs, beliefs and values.
Social workers support individuals and their families through difficult times and ensure that vulnerable people, including children and adults, are safeguarded from harm. Their role is to help improve outcomes in people’s lives. They
maintain professional relationships and act as guides and advocates
.
The 10 lessons I’ve learned (and continue to learn) in social work are:
Problems can come from anywhere—but so can solutions
! Be observant and curious. Honor others: your clients, their support systems, the multi-disciplinary team, and the larger network of resources—and let your behavior communicate your respect.
