Running head: SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Skill Development
Jordan Abernathy-Cornelius
Georgia State University

SW 3000 Communication/Cultural Diversity

Dr. Karen Watkins
November 30, 2014

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Cultural Competency Plan
There are ten standards of the NASW. These standards along with the Code of Ethics
assign the social worker with the ethical responsibility to be culturally competent (Lum,
2014). The ten standards are Ethics and Values, Self-Awareness, Cross-Cultural
Knowledge, Cross-Cultural Skills, Service Delivery, Empowerment and Advocacy, Diverse
Workforce, Professional Education, Language Diversity, and Cross-Cultural Leadership.
1. To incorporate ethic and values, we can learn to set boundaries through workshops in the
community. Setting boundaries would ensure that we do not find ourselves in situations
that conflict with our beliefs, but also would put the client first. For example, if someone
has a bias against homosexuals, they would need to know how to put aside their beliefs to
help the clients and do what is best for them.
2. By working with social work practitioners and having them evaluate their personal values
and beliefs, they can become more aware of their family culture and heritage. Not only
might this be helpful when engaging clients (bonding over shared culture or tradition),
but it would allow them to appreciate the different cultures in their community.
This class has increased my self-awareness through our cultural immersion projects, our
group projects, as well as the surveys we took at the beginning and ending of the
semester.
3. By becoming involved in the community, we can ensure cross-cultural knowledge, by
branching out and immersing ourselves in other cultures. Gaining cross-cultural
knowledge can be an ongoing endeavor through continuous acquisition of knowledge
through resources such as libraries or college classes. Furthermore, participating in
activities in the community such as Japan fest will help broaden our cultural knowledge.
While working with individuals, social workers can also research more about their
clients specific culture.
4. To develop cross-cultural skills studying the culture extensively as well as seeking out
others from that particular culture will enhance our skills. Furthermore, by getting to
know the culture of our clientele well be able to connect with them on a deeper level as
well as using the appropriate cultural approaches.
5. By becoming more knowledgeable about clients community and their ability to access
services, we can ensure proper service delivery. Making home visits to our clients will
allow us to learn if they dont have access to these services, and also what would be the
best way for us to provide these services.
6. Through keeping up with current policies and programs, we can empower our clients and
advocate for them. For example, while working with immigrant families by staying aware
of current immigration policies, we can ensure them of their rights and any changes to the
laws
7. By enforcing businesses to employ a variety of different employees, we can guarantee a
diverse workforce. For example, companies may not want to hire minorities, based on

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preconceived notions, however by advocating a change in policy so that companies have
to hire minorities, we ensure a diverse workforce.
8. In order to maintain a professional education, keeping up with training and educational
programs (through community colleges) is imperative. Advocating the completion of
such courses is vital to provide professional education. Furthermore, a supervisor in the
field instructing others on culturally sensitivity would ensure that the standards of
professional education are met.
9. By teaching basic classes in the languages of our clients as well as advocating services in
their language, we can acquire language diversity. In 2011 in Georgia, 22.9% of residents
aged 5 and over either did not speak English well or spoke no English (Ryan, 2013).
10. Conveying information about our diverse clientele in an articulate manner will lead to
cross-cultural leadership. By becoming more confident and knowledgeable about our
clients cultural needs (as well as our culture), we can work with other leaders to provide
the best course of action for our clients
Works that Ive done
1.Ethics and values- In the future, becoming aware of the ethics and values of the social work
profession with my ethics and values will help me focus on the needs of my clientele.
2.Self-awareness- This class has increased my self-awareness through our cultural immersions
projects, our group projects, as well as the surveys we took at the beginning and ending of the
semester.
3.Cross-Cultural Knowledge- Through my circle of friends, as well as volunteering and activities
weve done in class my cross-cultural knowledge has expanded.
4.Cross-Cultural skills- In the future, learning about each clients individual cultures would allow
to find out more about their culture and how to implement their culture while helping them.
5.Service Delivery- In the past, making sure that the families we helped had access to the
services was imperative. Often we asked the parents if they were able to use the services that
were available and if not what we would need to do so they could have access.
6.Empowerment and Advocacy- In the future, I will be able to follow policies that will directly
impact them.
7.Diverse workforce- In the future, I will be able to advocate diversity within workforces.
8. Professional Education- In the future, my professional education will increase after becoming
completing a Masters level program of education.
9.Language adversity- Speaking Spanish fluently has allowed me to reach out to families that
were helping and also convey their needs to the director
10.Cross-cultural leadership- By working with different cultures and learning their particular
needs, relaying this information to other professionals that help them would be easier
B. Social Action Plan

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After taking this class my understanding of the mechanisms of oppression of
discrimination when working with diverse cultures, has greatly expanded. Despite being the 21st
century, there is still oppression and discrimination in our society. It ranges from being overt to
covert. My goals for continued growth in my ability to address and confront oppression of all
vulnerable groups are to stay up to date with current policies that affect such groups. Also,
through continued education my knowledge on how to confront oppression will also become
more advanced. After becoming a social work practitioner, the groups I plan to act as an ally for
include immigrants and children. Through education and empowerment human rights and social
and economic justice will advance. By educating the community as well as empowering clients
by providing resources and helping them to meet their other needs, this can be achieved. For
example, getting to know my clients and advocating their particular needs (rather it be human
rights or social and economic justice) will allow me to help them advance and grow.
C. Post Reflection Experience
On November 8 after taking the Social Work Cultural Competencies Self-Assessment
Posttest my score was 136 and my score for the Social Work Competencies with Culturally
Diverse Groups and Social and Economic Justice posttest was 256. The improvement after
taking the Social Work Cultural Competencies Self-Assessment Posttest for a second time was
slight when compared to my improvement on the test. After taking the Social Work
Competencies with Culturally Diverse Groups and Social and Economic Justice score increased
by 28 point from my first pre-test. On that first pretest, my score for older adults was 19.
However, the second time, my score was 24 instead of 19. My score for peoples with
disabilities improved to a 27 (on the first test it was 19). Furthermore, my score for African
American improved as well. The score was 27 out of 28.After taking the first pretest, my first
initial reaction was shock after receiving my score. However, after taking the second test, my
feelings were of elation. Not only did my scores improve, but my knowledge increased as well.
The activities we conducted this semester that assisted me in becoming more culturally
competent would almost single-handedly be the group project. Researching my topic, as well as
listening to others present their topics increased my knowledge about these groups. As well as
helping me improve my score. Furthermore, the readings we did for our quizzes helped as well.
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References
Lum, D. (2010) Culturally Competent Practice: A framework for understanding diverse groups
and justice issues. Belmont, California: Brooks/Cole
Ryan, C. (2013, August). Language Spoken at Home and English-Speaking Ability by State:
2011. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/acs-22.pdf