What does it mean for social workers to be “culturally competent”?
Ability to interact with people from different culture with respect and knowledge, aware of biases
Why might people seek a social worker/ therapist with certain characteristics?
People may look for therapists with certain characteristics (e.g., race, gender) to feel understood, supported, and that their experiences will be validated.
How does creating a “brave space” go beyond a “safe space”?
A brave space encourages open discussion on uncomfortable or challenging topics, promoting growth and honest dialogue, beyond merely feeling safe
What does a “brave space” entail?
It involves mutual respect, accountability, and support, where participants are encouraged to take risks in discussions and confront tough issues.
Brave spaces acknowledge cultural issues that may inhibit “safe” discussions or spaces
Privilege
Absence of impediment or challenge, rather than inherent benefits
You’re not a bad person, you can still have challenges and life can still be hard.
How can strategies such as deep breathing help us approach challenging topics and situations?
Deep breathing reduces stress, calms the nervous system, and improves focus, helping us engage thoughtfully with difficult subjects.
Cultural Orientation Framework
Cultural differences exist and that becoming familiar with those differences is the solution to any intergroup understanding
(1) Becoming of others sets of norms
(2) Set aside ethnocentric ideas
(3) Learn from each other’s cultural rules and standards
How to achieve proximity? (4 steps)
- Stay close to people near us
- Change the narrative and framing
- Stay hopeful, protect your hope
- Do things that are uncomfortable and inconvenient
How is voting a part of social worker’s responsibility?
Voting aligns with social work ethics by supporting policies that impact clients’ welfare and advocating for systemic change
What is the difference between seeing people as what/objects & who/subjects?
Seeing people as “what” reduces them to labels, while seeing them as “who” acknowledges their individuality and humanity.
Understand assimilation and enculturation, as well as the risks and benefits associated with each.
Assimilation involves adopting the dominant culture, which may lead to loss of original culture;
enculturation maintains or reconnecting to one’s culture.
Describe cultural humility.
It’s the ongoing process of self-reflection to understand one’s biases and respect clients’ cultures, recognizing that there’s always more to learn.
Understand privilege, and how privilege can be a barrier to empathy.
Privilege can prevent understanding others’ struggles, as it creates a gap in lived experience and awareness.
What is listening with TING?
The ancient Chinese symbol for listening, “TING,” is an acronym that represents the six essential components of listening:
Ears: Listen quietly and attentively without internal evaluation
Mind: Use your mind to understand beyond hearing
Eyes: Watch for body language, gestures, and expressions
Heart: Listen wholeheartedly and feel what the person needs
Undivided attention: Give the other person your 100% focus
What aspects of identity intersect with race/ ethnicity to influence people’s opportunities in the U.S.?
Gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and religion
What is intersectionality?
A framework examining how overlapping identities affect experiences, particularly with discrimination and privilege
How could you apply the concept that an individual is “like no others, like some others, and like all others”?
This concept helps recognize individuality, commonalities within groups, and universal human experiences
Which identities matter in a particular context?
The relevance of particular identities depends on the situation, influencing behavior, perception, and societal response.
What strategies are useful for talking about identity?
Active listening, respect, openness, and curiosity without assumption
Know key strategies and pitfalls for conducting interviews (4)
- rapport
- neutrality
- avoid leading questions
- seek concreteness
What are social determinants of health?
Stress, early life experiences, social exclusion (discrimination), neighborhoods, employment, substance use, social networks
How to improve social and cultural disparities
(1) Improve living conditions
(2) Improve unequal distribution of resources and power
(3) Expand the knowledge base through research and measuring impact
What is the difference between upstream and downstream approaches to health disparities?
Upstream targets root causes (like policy changes), while downstream addresses immediate needs (like treatment).
What factors should be considered when selecting culturally appropriate interventions? (4)
Consider the client’s cultural context, beliefs, values, and preferred communication style
