Skill Development Jordan Abernathy-Cornelius Georgia State University
SW 3000 Communication/Cultural Diversity
Dr. Karen Watkins November 30, 2014
Running head: SKILL DEVELOPMENT
2 Cultural Competency Plan There are ten standards of the NASW. These standards along with the Code of Ethics assign the social worker with the ethical responsibility to be culturally competent (Lum, 2014). The ten standards are Ethics and Values, Self-Awareness, Cross-Cultural Knowledge, Cross-Cultural Skills, Service Delivery, Empowerment and Advocacy, Diverse Workforce, Professional Education, Language Diversity, and Cross-Cultural Leadership. 1. To incorporate ethic and values, we can learn to set boundaries through workshops in the community. Setting boundaries would ensure that we do not find ourselves in situations that conflict with our beliefs, but also would put the client first. For example, if someone has a bias against homosexuals, they would need to know how to put aside their beliefs to help the clients and do what is best for them. 2. By working with social work practitioners and having them evaluate their personal values and beliefs, they can become more aware of their family culture and heritage. Not only might this be helpful when engaging clients (bonding over shared culture or tradition), but it would allow them to appreciate the different cultures in their community. This class has increased my self-awareness through our cultural immersion projects, our group projects, as well as the surveys we took at the beginning and ending of the semester. 3. By becoming involved in the community, we can ensure cross-cultural knowledge, by branching out and immersing ourselves in other cultures. Gaining cross-cultural knowledge can be an ongoing endeavor through continuous acquisition of knowledge through resources such as libraries or college classes. Furthermore, participating in activities in the community such as Japan fest will help broaden our cultural knowledge. While working with individuals, social workers can also research more about their clients specific culture. 4. To develop cross-cultural skills studying the culture extensively as well as seeking out others from that particular culture will enhance our skills. Furthermore, by getting to know the culture of our clientele well be able to connect with them on a deeper level as well as using the appropriate cultural approaches. 5. By becoming more knowledgeable about clients community and their ability to access services, we can ensure proper service delivery. Making home visits to our clients will allow us to learn if they dont have access to these services, and also what would be the best way for us to provide these services. 6. Through keeping up with current policies and programs, we can empower our clients and advocate for them. For example, while working with immigrant families by staying aware of current immigration policies, we can ensure them of their rights and any changes to the laws 7. By enforcing businesses to employ a variety of different employees, we can guarantee a diverse workforce. For example, companies may not want to hire minorities, based on
Running head: SKILL DEVELOPMENT
3 preconceived notions, however by advocating a change in policy so that companies have to hire minorities, we ensure a diverse workforce. 8. In order to maintain a professional education, keeping up with training and educational programs (through community colleges) is imperative. Advocating the completion of such courses is vital to provide professional education. Furthermore, a supervisor in the field instructing others on culturally sensitivity would ensure that the standards of professional education are met. 9. By teaching basic classes in the languages of our clients as well as advocating services in their language, we can acquire language diversity. In 2011 in Georgia, 22.9% of residents aged 5 and over either did not speak English well or spoke no English (Ryan, 2013). 10. Conveying information about our diverse clientele in an articulate manner will lead to cross-cultural leadership. By becoming more confident and knowledgeable about our clients cultural needs (as well as our culture), we can work with other leaders to provide the best course of action for our clients Works that Ive done 1.Ethics and values- In the future, becoming aware of the ethics and values of the social work profession with my ethics and values will help me focus on the needs of my clientele. 2.Self-awareness- This class has increased my self-awareness through our cultural immersions projects, our group projects, as well as the surveys we took at the beginning and ending of the semester. 3.Cross-Cultural Knowledge- Through my circle of friends, as well as volunteering and activities weve done in class my cross-cultural knowledge has expanded. 4.Cross-Cultural skills- In the future, learning about each clients individual cultures would allow to find out more about their culture and how to implement their culture while helping them. 5.Service Delivery- In the past, making sure that the families we helped had access to the services was imperative. Often we asked the parents if they were able to use the services that were available and if not what we would need to do so they could have access. 6.Empowerment and Advocacy- In the future, I will be able to follow policies that will directly impact them. 7.Diverse workforce- In the future, I will be able to advocate diversity within workforces. 8. Professional Education- In the future, my professional education will increase after becoming completing a Masters level program of education. 9.Language adversity- Speaking Spanish fluently has allowed me to reach out to families that were helping and also convey their needs to the director 10.Cross-cultural leadership- By working with different cultures and learning their particular needs, relaying this information to other professionals that help them would be easier B. Social Action Plan
Running head: SKILL DEVELOPMENT
4 After taking this class my understanding of the mechanisms of oppression of discrimination when working with diverse cultures, has greatly expanded. Despite being the 21st century, there is still oppression and discrimination in our society. It ranges from being overt to covert. My goals for continued growth in my ability to address and confront oppression of all vulnerable groups are to stay up to date with current policies that affect such groups. Also, through continued education my knowledge on how to confront oppression will also become more advanced. After becoming a social work practitioner, the groups I plan to act as an ally for include immigrants and children. Through education and empowerment human rights and social and economic justice will advance. By educating the community as well as empowering clients by providing resources and helping them to meet their other needs, this can be achieved. For example, getting to know my clients and advocating their particular needs (rather it be human rights or social and economic justice) will allow me to help them advance and grow. C. Post Reflection Experience On November 8 after taking the Social Work Cultural Competencies Self-Assessment Posttest my score was 136 and my score for the Social Work Competencies with Culturally Diverse Groups and Social and Economic Justice posttest was 256. The improvement after taking the Social Work Cultural Competencies Self-Assessment Posttest for a second time was slight when compared to my improvement on the test. After taking the Social Work Competencies with Culturally Diverse Groups and Social and Economic Justice score increased by 28 point from my first pre-test. On that first pretest, my score for older adults was 19. However, the second time, my score was 24 instead of 19. My score for peoples with disabilities improved to a 27 (on the first test it was 19). Furthermore, my score for African American improved as well. The score was 27 out of 28.After taking the first pretest, my first initial reaction was shock after receiving my score. However, after taking the second test, my feelings were of elation. Not only did my scores improve, but my knowledge increased as well. The activities we conducted this semester that assisted me in becoming more culturally competent would almost single-handedly be the group project. Researching my topic, as well as listening to others present their topics increased my knowledge about these groups. As well as helping me improve my score. Furthermore, the readings we did for our quizzes helped as well. th
Running head: SKILL DEVELOPMENT
5 References Lum, D. (2010) Culturally Competent Practice: A framework for understanding diverse groups and justice issues. Belmont, California: Brooks/Cole Ryan, C. (2013, August). Language Spoken at Home and English-Speaking Ability by State: 2011. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/acs-22.pdf