Multiculturalism: Implications for Culturally Competent Social Work Practice
SummerI S S U E
A U G U S T2 0 1 4
“With multiculturalism’s focus on theinterrelationships between race, class,gender, ethnicity, and age, the socialwork profession can produce the nextgeneration of practitioners who are not only competent in working withincommunities of color but also cognizantof differential impact of social policieson diverse client populations” (Lee, E.,& McRoy R. (2008a) p. 280.
IntroductionIn the United States, there has been acontinued population demographic shift, withan increase of people of color from diversecultures and ethnic identities. Many of thesefamilies who seek social services are poor,immigrants, or survivors of generations ofracism and discrimination. For many socialworkers, this change in demographics canmean increased exposure to the complexitiesand richness of diverse experiences andneeds which are reflected in caseloads,communities, and work places.
Simultaneously—for social workers,organizations, and communities—theseexperiences with culturally diverse populationspresent both challenges and opportunities forpersonal, professional, organizational and
community growth. Culturally competentpractices must be integral parts in the provisionof services, agency operations, and policies.By understanding the perspective from whichfamilies view the world, as well as theelements of culture and cultural-specificvariables, social workers can deliverappropriate services amidst the complexissues presented within a multicultural context.
Demographic Changes According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it isestimated that by 2060, Hispanics willrepresent the greatest immigration populationin the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). It isalso projected that immigration to the UnitesStates by people from Asia, Eastern Europe,Africa and Latin America will increase. Thisprojected growth increases the likelihood thatsocial workers will experience an influx ofdiverse populations within their practices andworkplace settings.
Implications of the Increases inImmigrant Populations to the U.S. The immigrant populations entering the U.S.represent a wide variety and range ofbackgrounds: some may be from regions withhigh rates of poverty; some have experiencedthe tragedies of terror, genocide, and war;some speak another language other than
English; while others are predominately peopleof color who encounter misdirected biases anddiscrimination. The nation’s intention to acceptvarious groups’ cultural and racial differences isoften overshadowed by racial intolerance,mistrust, misunderstanding, and misconceptionsabout religion, ethnicity and culturalbackgrounds. This dynamic has evolved into amixed societal and political reaction tomulticulturalism that ranges from sustainednegativity towards diversity to welcoming andappreciating the contributions these differencescan make to this country. Too often, however,these multicultural populations confront barriersand access to services because of their limitedEnglish proficiency (LEP). Increasingly, withdemographic changes in people, families andcommunities, multiculturalism is an ideal that mustbe realized within the framework of social workpractice and attitudes.
Multiculturalism in Context Throughout the early history of the U.S.,multiculturalism concepts were often negativelyviewed, as illustrated by the exploitation ofNative Americans, forcible enslavement of Africansbrought to this country, and subsequently with thelater arrival of immigrant populations (Lee, E. &McRoy, R. (2008b). During the Civil Rightsmovement, however, racial and economicinequities were core factors that advancedmulticulturalism approaches towards therecognition and valuing of diversity.
Multiculturalism is defined “as an ideology thatsuggests that society should consist of, or at leastrecognize and include with equal status, diversecultural groups” (Sue, 2006). The NASW Codeof Ethics provides guidance to social workersregarding their work with multicultural individuals,families and communities by identifying corevalues, principles, and standards that supportswork with diverse clients and communities. Toprovide services in a multicultural context, socialworkers can first examine their own individualcultures and “how these impact their personal andprofessional lives, including their self-awareness,knowledge, and skills.”p. 18 (Ahmed, S.,Wilson, K, Henriksen, R, Jones J. (2010).Through this reflective process, social workerscan open themselves to realizing the multiculturalattributes of diverse people.
Cultural diversity is a fundamental principle ofmulticulturalism. Through a multicultural orientation
there is an opportunity to: “broaden representationof perspectives, world views, lifestyles, language,and communication skills and increaseunderstanding, recognition and appreciation ofthese diversity factors to better work with clientsserved by the agencies.” (Social WorkEncyclopedia, 2008). As shifts in the UnitedStates’ population are heavily influenced byimmigration and the increased birth rates ofracial and ethnic groups, social workers willneed to prepare for increased populationdiversity within individuals, families andcommunities. (Congress, E. & Kung, W. 2013)
Social Workers and aMulticulturalism ApproachTeaching and learning from a multiculturalismperspective increases knowledge, awareness andunderstanding about race, ethnicity, gender, andimmigrant populations, and is likely to contributeto culturally competent social work practice. Withthe continuous growth of numbers of culturallydiverse individuals and groups of people, socialworkers will be challenged in their ability to meetthe multicultural needs of a diverse society. Cultural competence considerations included inmulticultural practice include:
• Social workers need to be aware of theirown values and biases
• Social workers need to be aware of theclient’s world view
• Social worker need to be able to deliverculturally appropriate interventions
In order for social workers to provide culturallyinformed services, they must integrate theirattitudes; knowledge; and skills into practice.(Kohli, H, Huber, R, Faul, A., 2010). In anadvocacy capacity, social workers can beessential to responding to and facilitating thecooperation between mainstream socioculturalattitudes and the populations seeking acceptanceand recognition.
Social Work Ethics andMulticulturalism Three standards are identified under section1.05 Cultural Competence and Social Diversityof the NASW Code of Ethics and they include:
• Social workers should understand cultureand its function in human behavior andsociety, recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures
• Social workers should have a knowledgebase of their clients’ culture and be able to
demonstrate competence in the provision ofservices that are sensitive to clients’ culturesand to differences among people andcultural groups.
• Social workers should obtain education aboutand seek to understand the nature of socialdiversity and oppression with respect to race,ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexualorientation, gender identity or expression,age, marital status, political belief, religion,immigration status, and mental or physicaldisability. (NASW Code of Ethics, 2008).
Practical Tips For Social Workers toConsider in a Multicultural PracticeSocial workers will need to avoid the misconceptionthat one intervention fits all as well as failing tointegrate the role and influence of culture intoservices and interventions. For example, manyestablished and new immigrants retain religiousand cultural beliefs that are essential to them. It is,therefore, equally essential that social workers areopen to discussing and learning about thesebeliefs and their influence on the person’s life.
Social workers need to recognize some commonbarriers to and errors in the delivery of culturallycompetent services such as:
• evaluation and practices that do not considerculture, religion and secularism can increasethe likelihood of inadequate and possibleill-considered treatment interventions andservices
• consideration of possible cultural attitudes in seeking treatment
• an unprepared social work workforce
Self-Assessment Tool for Cultural Competence:A starting point for social workers can be to usea simple cultural competence self-assessment tool.The questions can help social workers probe intotheir own personal thoughts, biases, andagencies barriers in delivering cultural competentservices to multicultural population groups. Self- assessment is often seen as a way forpersonnel and organizations to enhance andimprove agency services and ultimatelymeasurable outcomes.
In an advocacy
capacity, social
workers can be
essential to
responding to and
facilitating the
cooperation between
mainstream
sociocultural attitudes
and the populations
seeking acceptance
and recognition.
PERSONAL/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ELEMENTS OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE
The NASW Code of
Ethics provides
guidance to social
workers regarding
their work with
multicultural
individuals, families
and communities by
identifying core
values, principles,
and standards that
supports work with
diverse clients and
communities.
English; while others are predominately peopleof color who encounter misdirected biases anddiscrimination. The nation’s intention to acceptvarious groups’ cultural and racial differences isoften overshadowed by racial intolerance,mistrust, misunderstanding, and misconceptionsabout religion, ethnicity and culturalbackgrounds. This dynamic has evolved into amixed societal and political reaction tomulticulturalism that ranges from sustainednegativity towards diversity to welcoming andappreciating the contributions these differencescan make to this country. Too often, however,these multicultural populations confront barriersand access to services because of their limitedEnglish proficiency (LEP). Increasingly, withdemographic changes in people, families andcommunities, multiculturalism is an ideal that mustbe realized within the framework of social workpractice and attitudes.
Multiculturalism in Context Throughout the early history of the U.S.,multiculturalism concepts were often negativelyviewed, as illustrated by the exploitation ofNative Americans, forcible enslavement of Africansbrought to this country, and subsequently with thelater arrival of immigrant populations (Lee, E. &McRoy, R. (2008b). During the Civil Rightsmovement, however, racial and economicinequities were core factors that advancedmulticulturalism approaches towards therecognition and valuing of diversity.
Multiculturalism is defined “as an ideology thatsuggests that society should consist of, or at leastrecognize and include with equal status, diversecultural groups” (Sue, 2006). The NASW Codeof Ethics provides guidance to social workersregarding their work with multicultural individuals,families and communities by identifying corevalues, principles, and standards that supportswork with diverse clients and communities. Toprovide services in a multicultural context, socialworkers can first examine their own individualcultures and “how these impact their personal andprofessional lives, including their self-awareness,knowledge, and skills.”p. 18 (Ahmed, S.,Wilson, K, Henriksen, R, Jones J. (2010).Through this reflective process, social workerscan open themselves to realizing the multiculturalattributes of diverse people.
Cultural diversity is a fundamental principle ofmulticulturalism. Through a multicultural orientation
there is an opportunity to: “broaden representationof perspectives, world views, lifestyles, language,and communication skills and increaseunderstanding, recognition and appreciation ofthese diversity factors to better work with clientsserved by the agencies.” (Social WorkEncyclopedia, 2008). As shifts in the UnitedStates’ population are heavily influenced byimmigration and the increased birth rates ofracial and ethnic groups, social workers willneed to prepare for increased populationdiversity within individuals, families andcommunities. (Congress, E. & Kung, W. 2013)
Social Workers and aMulticulturalism ApproachTeaching and learning from a multiculturalismperspective increases knowledge, awareness andunderstanding about race, ethnicity, gender, andimmigrant populations, and is likely to contributeto culturally competent social work practice. Withthe continuous growth of numbers of culturallydiverse individuals and groups of people, socialworkers will be challenged in their ability to meetthe multicultural needs of a diverse society. Cultural competence considerations included inmulticultural practice include:
• Social workers need to be aware of theirown values and biases
• Social workers need to be aware of theclient’s world view
• Social worker need to be able to deliverculturally appropriate interventions
In order for social workers to provide culturallyinformed services, they must integrate theirattitudes; knowledge; and skills into practice.(Kohli, H, Huber, R, Faul, A., 2010). In anadvocacy capacity, social workers can beessential to responding to and facilitating thecooperation between mainstream socioculturalattitudes and the populations seeking acceptanceand recognition.
Social Work Ethics andMulticulturalism Three standards are identified under section1.05 Cultural Competence and Social Diversityof the NASW Code of Ethics and they include:
• Social workers should understand cultureand its function in human behavior andsociety, recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures
• Social workers should have a knowledgebase of their clients’ culture and be able to
demonstrate competence in the provision ofservices that are sensitive to clients’ culturesand to differences among people andcultural groups.
• Social workers should obtain education aboutand seek to understand the nature of socialdiversity and oppression with respect to race,ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexualorientation, gender identity or expression,age, marital status, political belief, religion,immigration status, and mental or physicaldisability. (NASW Code of Ethics, 2008).
Practical Tips For Social Workers toConsider in a Multicultural PracticeSocial workers will need to avoid the misconceptionthat one intervention fits all as well as failing tointegrate the role and influence of culture intoservices and interventions. For example, manyestablished and new immigrants retain religiousand cultural beliefs that are essential to them. It is,therefore, equally essential that social workers areopen to discussing and learning about thesebeliefs and their influence on the person’s life.
Social workers need to recognize some commonbarriers to and errors in the delivery of culturallycompetent services such as:
• evaluation and practices that do not considerculture, religion and secularism can increasethe likelihood of inadequate and possibleill-considered treatment interventions andservices
• consideration of possible cultural attitudes in seeking treatment
• an unprepared social work workforce
Self-Assessment Tool for Cultural Competence:A starting point for social workers can be to usea simple cultural competence self-assessment tool.The questions can help social workers probe intotheir own personal thoughts, biases, andagencies barriers in delivering cultural competentservices to multicultural population groups. Self- assessment is often seen as a way forpersonnel and organizations to enhance andimprove agency services and ultimatelymeasurable outcomes.
In an advocacy
capacity, social
workers can be
essential to
responding to and
facilitating the
cooperation between
mainstream
sociocultural attitudes
and the populations
seeking acceptance
and recognition.
PERSONAL/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ELEMENTS OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE
Social workers will
need to avoid the
misconception that
one intervention fits
all as well as failing
to integrate the role
and influence of
culture into services
and interventions.
ReferencesAhmed S., Wilson K., Henriksen K., & Jones, J.,(2010). What does it mean to be a culturally-competent counselor? Retrieved from:www.psysr.org/jsacp/ahmed-v3n1-11_17-28.pdf
Congress E., & Kung W., (2013). Using theculturagram to assess and empower culturallydiverse families. In E. Congress and M. Gonzalez,Multicultural Perspective in Social Work Practice withFamilies. (3rd. ed., pp. 1-17). New York: SpringerPublishing Company.
Kohli, H., Huber, R., Faul, A., (2010). Historical andtheoretical development of culturally competent socialwork practice. Journal of Teaching in Social Work.Vol. 30, no.3 0884-1233, p.259.
Sue, D.W. (2006). Multicultural social work practice.Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
National Association of Social Workers (2008)Code of Ethics. Washington, DC: Author.
Lee, E., & McRoy, R., (2008a). Multiculturalism. In T. Mizrahi (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social work(20th ed. Vol. 3, p. 280). Washington DC: NASW Press & Oxford University Press.
Lee, E., & McRoy, R., (2008b) Multiculturalism. In T. Mizrahi (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social work(20th ed. Vol. 3). Washington DC: NASW Press & Oxford University Press.
U.S. Census Bureau (2012). Projected population ofthe United States by race and hispanic origin 2060.Washington, DC: Author. Available at:www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2012.html
ResourcesDiaz, L. (2005). Multiculturalism. National AssociationSocial Workers. Retrieved: www.naswdc.org/practice/equity/multiculturalism-PU0505.pdf
National Association of Social Workers. (2007).Indicators for achievement the NASW standards forcultural competence in social work practice. Retrievedfrom: http://socialworkers.org/practice/standards/NASWCulturalStandardsIndicators2006.pdf
National Association Social Workers. (2012). Policystatement; Cultural and linguistic competence in thesocial work profession. Washington, DC: Author.
Webb, R., (2010). Social workers: a bridge tolanguage access services. Retrieved from:www.socialworkers.org/assets/secured/documents/practice/clinical/WKF-MISC-47310.DiversityPU.pdf
PracticePerspectives
Multiculturalism: Implications for Culturally Competent Social Work Practice
SummerI S S U E
A U G U S T2 0 1 4
“With multiculturalism’s focus on theinterrelationships between race, class,gender, ethnicity, and age, the socialwork profession can produce the nextgeneration of practitioners who are not only competent in working withincommunities of color but also cognizantof differential impact of social policieson diverse client populations” (Lee, E.,& McRoy R. (2008a) p. 280.
IntroductionIn the United States, there has been acontinued population demographic shift, withan increase of people of color from diversecultures and ethnic identities. Many of thesefamilies who seek social services are poor,immigrants, or survivors of generations ofracism and discrimination. For many socialworkers, this change in demographics canmean increased exposure to the complexitiesand richness of diverse experiences andneeds which are reflected in caseloads,communities, and work places.
Simultaneously—for social workers,organizations, and communities—theseexperiences with culturally diverse populationspresent both challenges and opportunities forpersonal, professional, organizational and
community growth. Culturally competentpractices must be integral parts in the provisionof services, agency operations, and policies.By understanding the perspective from whichfamilies view the world, as well as theelements of culture and cultural-specificvariables, social workers can deliverappropriate services amidst the complexissues presented within a multicultural context.
Demographic Changes According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it isestimated that by 2060, Hispanics willrepresent the greatest immigration populationin the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). It isalso projected that immigration to the UnitesStates by people from Asia, Eastern Europe,Africa and Latin America will increase. Thisprojected growth increases the likelihood thatsocial workers will experience an influx ofdiverse populations within their practices andworkplace settings.
Implications of the Increases inImmigrant Populations to the U.S. The immigrant populations entering the U.S.represent a wide variety and range ofbackgrounds: some may be from regions withhigh rates of poverty; some have experiencedthe tragedies of terror, genocide, and war;some speak another language other than
