Discussions:
Discussion 1
The case of Charo.
Tori DeAngelis (2015), defined cultural competency as "the ability to understand, appreciate and interact with people from cultures or belief systems different from one's own" (as cited in American Psychological Association website). Social worker needs to be familiar with the normative cultural values affecting interactions with their clients from different cultures. While it is impossible to know everything about every culture, social worker must learn about important cultural values that can stop progress. The ability to provide appropriate and effective care to members of various cultural groups rests on a set of attitudes, skills, policies, practices that is needed in achieving such goals. I am a bit familiar with Hispanic culture as I have worked many years with people of different cultural background. I know that Hispanics placed a strong emphasis on family as a major source of one's identity and sense of belonging that is intense and limited to family and friends only. As a social worker cultural awareness is very important as it is necessary to fully understand how a different set of beliefs, values, and religion or lack thereof affect client's perspectives and their personal views on the services and interventions.
Knowing that Charo lacks family support and knowing that her family is very important to her, I would ask her if her family in Mexico have access to internet and if she will like to video chat with them and that way she will not feel alone. I will also suggest getting a laptop to her as everything is online now such as job search, filling applications and she can even self-taught herself the ESL through YouTube, google, and also learn how to navigate through the net. I will also want to know what she considered to be her major priority/goals she will like to work on first?
References.
National Association of Social Work (2015). Standard indicators for cultural competence in social work practice Retrieved on 110/6/2017 fromhttps://www.socialworkers.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=7dVckZAYUmk%3D&portalid=0
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., &Brocksen S.M. (Eds.). (2014). Working with Survivors Abuse and Trauma: The Case of Charo in social case work studies: (2014). Retrieved on 10/30/2017 from https://class.waldenu.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/U+SW1/201810_05/MS_SOCW/SOCW_6002_WC/artifacts/MSW_Charo_CaseStudy.pdf
Tori DeAngelis, T. (2015). In search of cultural competency. Vol 46, No. 3. Retrieved on 11/8/2017 from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2015/03/cultural-competenc
Discussion 2
Social Workers shall have and continue to develop specialized knowledge and understanding about the history, tradition, values, family systems, and artistic expressions of major client groups that they serve. (NASW, 2001, p.4) As a social worker it is vital that you are well knowledgeable of the culture that you are serving, so that you will be well aware of any barriers or traditions that may or may not affect your assistance with the client.
Cultural competence is the ability to apply knowledge and skills to social work practice with diverse groups. Cultural competence includes specific knowledge about individual cultures, valuing of and sensitivity to cultural differences, awareness of the patterns of oppression experienced by those cultures, and the skill to utilize culturally appropriate interventions (Lum, 2007,NASW, 1996).
Most African American women in the early years was afraid to come out about sexual, verbal, mental or physical abuse due to the fact of not being believed. Especially if the abuser was a relative or friend of the family. This is evident in Brenna.s youth and adult life.
One piece of additional information that the social worker need to know is the dynamics of Brenna's childhood. Although she was raised by her mother in an urban neighborhood, what did that look like? What role did the absent parent play if any? What was a day in the life of Brenna? This would give the social worker more of an insight on how to assistance Brenna and come up with a great case plan for her.
Another key piece of information would be what type of relationship did Brenna and her mother have? What transpired between them that would cause her mother not to believe her? What was her mom's upbringing like? This information would assist the social worker in finding the root of the family's makeup. A lot of times history repeats itself, and the cycle continues from generation to generation, until someone can finally get to the root of the issues that need to be resolved.
References:
National Association of Social Workers. (2001). NASW standards for cultural competence in social work practice. Washington, DC: Author.
Working With Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Traum. The Case of Brenna. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/USW1/201810_05/MS_SOCW/SOCW_6002_WC/artifacts/MSW_Brenna_CaseStudy.p