Working with Diverse Groups: An Introduction to Culturally Competent Social Work Practice

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Working with Diverse Groups An Introduction to
Culturally Competent Social Work Practice

• Lita D. Allen
• Lecturer, SW28A SW28B
• Theory and Practice of Social Work I II
• Module Social Group Work (Semester I, 2006/2007)
• Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social
  Work
• The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus

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Cultural Diversity

• Culture implies the integrated pattern of human
  behavior that includes the thoughts,
  communications, actions, customs, beliefs,
  values, and institutions of racial, ethnic,
  religious, or social group refers to the
  totality of ways being passed on from generation
  to generation and includes ways in which people
  with disabilities or people from various
  religious backgrounds or people who are gay,
  lesbian or transgender experience the world
  around them.
• (NASW, 2001. p. 4)

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Cultural Diversity

• Culture, in short, encompasses behavioral
  patterns, intergenerational passages, and
  particular group life experiences.
• Lum, D. (ed.). 2003. Culturally competent
  practice A framework for understanding diverse
  groups and justice issues. CA. Brooks/Cole
  Thomson Learning.

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• Reference
• Toseland W. Rivas R. (2005). An Introduction to
  Group Work Practice (5th. Ed.). MA Pearson
  Education, Inc.
• Chapter 5

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Cultural Diversity

• Cultural diversity is associated with
• race
• ethnicity
• national origin
• as well as the sociocultural experiences of
  people who differ according to

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Cultural Diversity

• geographical background
• language
• age
• gender
• sexual orientation
• physical and mental ability.

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Cultural Diversity

• educational level
• social class
• religious and spiritual beliefs,
• political affiliation and ideology
• level of acculturation and assimilation

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Impact of diversity

• The potential for conflict will exist due to
• Stereotyping
• Prejudice
• Discrimination
• Oppression
• Respect differences, confront any issue, and
  prevent from becoming a problem

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Multicultural group work

• Also referred to as
• Diversity practice
• Ethnic-sensitive practice
• Cross-cultural approach
• Cultural / multicultural competence

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What is multicultural group work?

• Involvement in group work with persons whose
  backgrounds are different from our own or from
  that of other members of the group. Leaders learn
  to develop a perspective and practice that is
  culturally sensitive and culturally competent.
• Toseland
  Rivas, 2003

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How does a group leader become culturally
competent?

• Internal work on the self
• Allow members to talk about who they are
• Frame the discussion of differences so that
  members see differences as strength
• Build the group as an important support network
• Become familiar with the cultural backgrounds of
  group members

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What cultural influences are likely to impact
group behaviour?

• Cultural backgrounds of group workers
• Cultural backgrounds of group members
• Differences in expectations and motivations based
  on cultural background
• Initial level of cultural assessment
• The influence of larger environmental context

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What cultural influences are likely to impact
group behaviour?

• Level of raised consciousness to diversity
• Patterns of interacting behaviours in the group
• Subgrouping patterns
• Different cultural views on norms, roles, status
  and power and control within the group

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Practice principles for working with
multicultural groups

• Acknowledge the existence of diversity
• Assess self in relation to diversity issues
• Assess group members within their environment
• Approach with an open, non-judgmental mind,
  welcoming the richness and positive potential

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Practice principles for working with
multicultural groups

• Commit to working with diversity
• Communicate through active listening and
  sensitive responding
• Challenge discriminatory practices in groups

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Practice principles for working with
multicultural groups

• Empower members through empathy,
  individualization, support and advocacy
• Pay attention to context of spirituality
• Group participation should be encouraged
• Group development should be fostered
• Interventions and activities must be relevant to
  the cultures represented

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Guidelines for interventions

• Based on social work values and skills
• Adopt a strength perspective
• Seek to empower members
• Explore common and different experiences
• Explore language and meanings
• Challenge prejudice and discrimination
• Advocate for social and economic justice for
  members