National Association of Social Workers (NASW) 10 Standards of Cultural Competencies

Question 1

What is cultural competence?

Answer 1

Cultural competence is a set of congruent behaviours, attitudes, and policies
that come together in a system or agency or among professionals and enable
the system, agency, or professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural
situations.

Question 2

Name the 10 cultural competences of NASW

Answer 2

1. Ethics and Values
2. Self-Awareness
3. Cross-Cultural Knowledge
4. Cross-Cultural Skills
5. Service Delivery
6. Empowerment & Advocacy
7. Diverse Workforce
8. Professional Education
9. Language Diversity
10. Cross-cultural Leadership

Question 3

Explain:

1. Ethics and Values

Answer 3

Social workers shall function in accordance with the values, ethics, and
standards of the profession, recognising how personal and professional values
may conflict with or accommodate the needs of diverse clients.

Question 4

Explain:

2. Self-Awareness

Answer 4

Social workers shall seek to develop an understanding of their own personal,
cultural values and beliefs as one way of appreciating the importance of multicultural identities in the lives of people.

Question 5

Explain:

3. Cross-Cultural Knowledge

Answer 5

Social workers shall have and continue to develop specialised knowledge and
understanding about the history, traditions, values, family systems, and artistic
expressions of major client groups that they serve.

Question 6

Explain:

4. Cross-Cultural Skills

Answer 6

Social workers shall use appropriate methodological approaches, skills, and
techniques that reflect the workers’ understanding of the role of culture in the
helping process.

Question 7

Explain:

5. Service Delivery

Answer 7

Social workers shall be knowledgeable about and skillful in the use of services
available in the community and broader society and be able to make appropriate referrals for their diverse clients.

Question 8

Explain:

6. Empowerment & Advocacy

Answer 8

Social workers shall be aware of the effect of social policies and programmes
on diverse client populations, advocating for and with clients whenever
appropriate.

Question 9

Explain:

7. Diverse Workforce

Answer 9

Social workers shall support and advocate for recruitment, admissions and
hiring, and retention efforts in social work programmes and agencies that
ensure diversity within the profession.

Question 10

Explain:

8. Professional Education

Answer 10

Social workers shall advocate for and participate in educational and training
programmes that help advance cultural competence within the profession.

Question 11

Explain:

9. Language Diversity

Answer 11

Social workers shall seek to provide or advocate for the provision of information, referrals, and services in the language appropriate to the client, which may include use of interpreters.

Question 12

Explain:

10. Cross-cultural Leadership

Answer 12

Social workers shall be able to communicate information about diverse client
groups to other professionals.