Supporting diverse populations adds to the enrichment of a social work career. That said, empowering clients across communities requires more than knowledge of social work theory. Social workers must also develop cultural competence in social work practice.
What is cultural competence in social work? The New Social Worker framed it as a commitment to building the skills and intelligence needed to “work effectively with people from a particular culture.” By acquiring cultural competence, social workers can administer services in ways that respect and promote the diversity of clients and communities.
Boundless factors can influence culture, and building cultural competence calls for strategic professional development. But it’s far from an analytical endeavor. Instead, social workers commit to humility as they learn about cultural experiences and help people in ways that promote dignity.
Competence Begins With an Embrace of Cultural Humility
Each client is the sole authority of their cultural experience. For this reason, cultural humility is an essential aspect of cultural competence in social work practice, according to Social Work Today.
By embracing cultural humility, social workers remain humble and follow the client’s lead on matters of identity. At the same time, social workers empathize with people in an attempt to feel what they have experienced. These efforts help practitioners demonstrate an emotional connection with clients, which can serve as a foundation for a trusting relationship.
For novice social workers, practicing cultural humility is just that — practice. If they make mistakes on cultural matters, it’s wise to welcome corrections from clients. Remember: Being corrected about cultural matters is not embarrassing. It’s a chance to build cultural competence and grow as a professional.
Being corrected about cultural matters is not embarrassing. It’s a chance to build cultural competence and grow as a professional.
Build on Humility With High Standards for Cultural Competence
An embrace of cultural humility originates from the Standards and Indicators for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice. The National Association for Social Workers (NASW) developed these standards as a framework for assistance aligning with a client’s beliefs. Social workers can follow many techniques to adopt these standards, such as:
Practice Self-Awareness in Social Work
Social workers strive to help people succeed in the world, not change their worldview. They can follow this tenet by accounting for personal biases — and resisting them — while acquiring cultural competence. This mindfulness helps social workers avoid letting their beliefs shape the action plans that they devise.
Strive to help people succeed in the world, not change their worldview.
Cultivate Cross-Cultural Knowledge and Skills
Social workers get opportunities to engage with people shaped by a wealth of cultural traditions, values and practices. NASW’s standards highlight cultural touchpoints for social workers to learn about, including diversity in:
- Race and ethnicity
- Religion
- Social class
- Immigrant status
Effective social workers go beyond learning about these touchpoints. They also build the skills to assist people across the cultural spectrum. Success in this area often starts with training that instills cultural competence in social work practice, such as in-house professional development or an online BSW. The best programs offer hands-on experience interacting with — and learning from — clients in supervised settings.
Offer Connections to Culturally Appropriate Services
To connect people with culturally appropriate services, social workers must partner with a diverse set of service providers. Achieving diversity in social work partnerships is vital because, as NASW attests, clients deserve the aid of providers that respect their heritage and outlook. Much like social workers, service providers should aid people without attempting to reshape their beliefs. If a partner falls short in meeting this obligation, it’s time to find a replacement.
Advocate for Clients in Multicultural Communities
Societal biases play a significant role in hindering success and marginalizing communities. These biases put an onus on social workers to help clients navigate systems that, at no fault of their own, prevent them from coping with trauma or achieving their goals. NASW outlines the myriad barriers that clients face, such as:
- Racism
- Sexism
- Heterosexism
- Ageism
- Ableism
- Classism
In social work, advocacy means more than encouraging words. Social workers also empower clients to access the resources to take action against injustice. The best resources enable people to advocate for themselves after their relationship with the social worker ends.
Advocacy means more than encouraging words. Social workers also empower clients to access the resources to take action against injustice.
Communicate With Clients Effectively
Nearly 22 percent of Americans do not speak English in their homes, per the U.S. Census Bureau. Based on this data, it’s common for social workers to support clients whose primary language isn’t English.
Social workers who only speak English shouldn’t view language diversity as a barrier, but as a core element of a community’s identity. NASW states that social workers who receive federal funds are “required to facilitate quality language access at no charge to the consumer.” Failure to assist with this access is not just an example of discrimination in social work practice; it may be at odds with federal law.
Language diversity isn’t a barrier. It’s a core element of a community’s identity.
Three Best Practices for Junior Social Workers to Explore
Following the NASW’s standards goes a long way toward acquiring cultural competence in social work practice. However, it takes time for new social workers to discern how cultural identity impacts a client’s action plan. Fortunately, there are best practices for addressing barriers to cultural competence in social work. Community Care, an organization that empowers social workers, offers numerous ideas, including:
1. Take the Time to Engage With Clients
Becoming culturally competent is a long-term process, and getting to know clients is an essential part. Engaged social workers take the time to talk with clients about who they are, the challenges they face and their goals for the relationship. This process enables social workers to tailor support by learning client perspectives on cultural traditions and norms.
2. Avoid Broad Cultural Assumptions
Becoming culturally competent is a long-term process, and getting to know clients is an essential part. Engaged social workers take the time to talk with clients about who they are, the challenges they face and their goals for the relationship. This process enables social workers to tailor support by learning client perspectives on cultural traditions and norms.
3. Be Prepared to Adapt
Client expectations and needs vary tremendously. Therefore, social workers must strive for flexibility as they work in diverse communities. For instance, someone who grew up with technology may feel comfortable meeting over Zoom. In contrast, face-to-face meetings may work better for tech-averse clients.
Another example is the work of practitioners who advocate for asylum seekers. An article in the European Journal of Social Work explores the nature of working with people who departed areas of strife. To help them, social workers need to understand their experiences with power injustices. Beyond adaptability, this work requires high cultural competence to assist these clients with the dignity they deserve.
How Leaders Promote Cultural Sensitivity in Social Work Organizations
The ideas presented above can help social workers build cultural competence. But there are times when they need the backing of organizational leaders. Here are two ways for administrators and hiring managers to foster cultural competence in social work practice:
Commit to Diversity Through Hiring Practices
By prioritizing diversity in social work hiring practices, leaders bring a more inclusive range of perspectives to teams. This approach lets social workers build cultural competencies as a united workplace community. They can also exchange lessons learned through interactions with clients and personal experiences.
Build Cultural Competence Through Training
Lunch-and-learns and workshops let new hires gain cultural competence in social work practice. These sessions also provide value to veteran social workers, especially when local demographics change. For instance, they may need to expand their cultural competence to ensure a newly settled refugee family accesses thoughtful assistance. Training can take place in-house or with a third-party partner that specializes in working with multicultural communities.
Educational opportunities also enable professionals to transition to this growing field. An ideal entry point is to earn your online bachelor’s degree in social work — and Campbellsville University’s program offers practical theory and training for launching your career. The program helps you acquire more than foundational knowledge during online classes. You will also gain hands-on experience through a practicum that takes place in a supervised social work environment.
Campbellsville University designed the online BSW for busy professionals, as you can finish each course in only eight weeks. The program’s benefits extend beyond flexibility, as it is also very cost-friendly. In fact, Campbellsville University ranks in the top 50 schools nationally for the lowest amount of student debt, according to LendEDU.
Earn your BSW online with Campbellsville University to prepare for rewarding social work positions in healthcare, counseling and school systems. You can also further your career potential and community impact by continuing your education in an online Master of Social Work program.