GSU

Skill Development
Cultural and Social Action Plan
Hannah Park 12/2/2013

Skill Development 1 Cultural Competency Action Plan In every field of work, there are standards, principals, and guidelines set for the learning individuals to abide by in order to become the best they can be. With social work, we are provided the Code of Ethics to affectively work with diverse populations. Many ethical concerns arise if individuals are not equipped with the cultural knowledge and acquisition that the Code of Ethics offer. These ethics are based on the values we have as humans, guidance of our choices, and our ability to know right from wrong. It shows us how we can be fair to others and ourselves by promoting good and maintaining the moral obligation that we have to ourselves and everything/one around us. As social workers, we must be able to acknowledge the importance of culture, respect any differences, minimize judgments, and overall understand the sensitivity to every aspect of the other group. My cultural competency plan is developed to provide a framework for my future accomplishments. I will be utilizing a wide range of resources on a micro, mezzo, and macro level to illustrate my action plan. First, I believe that social workers should know how to behave appropriately according to the clients background, ethics and values to avoid conflict. Given the recognition of ethics and values, on a micro level, we should strive to help individuals become more aware of their own culture and identity. This could be done the same I began this class beginning of the semester: conducting a self-evaluation test. It helped me realize how little I was aware of myself and others and extended my appreciation of the other multicultural identities people hold. As I constantly continue to gain knowledge and understanding of cultures, I will then use my skills and techniques appropriate to the given situation to serve clients based on their cultural needs. Second, in order to promote cultural competence on a mezzo dimension, we must expand our awareness to the community. It is our goal to come together professionally to work effectively in multicultural situations. Achieving a culturally competent service delivery is to maintain an open mind and value diversity. Recruiting diverse workforces, providing language translation services, and participating in educational and training programs are all ways the community can put into action. A range of available services provided in the community is necessary in referring our clients to the appropriate service. If we are able to accept the intensity of our diverse clients, there is no problem in helping those in need. Third, the more assistance we have from the larger systems (government-nationalinternational), the more our macro cultural competence expands. With the effort from the larger systems addressing competence issues, the more likely wed be able to develop services and programs. It is all about advocacy when it comes to increasing awareness. Developing programs that advocate for and with diverse individuals and groups allows personal growth and skills for social change. Collaborating with higher powers empowers social workers to continue the fight and communicate information to other professionals. We are made to lead diverse populations into fairness and equality in all aspects of their lives.

Skill Development 2 Social Action Plan In our textbook, oppression is defined as a situation in which one segment of the population acts to prevent another segment of the population from attaining access to resourced or that acts to inhibit or make them less than in some way in order to dominate them. In simpler terms, it is the act of domination of subordinate groups by the more powerful groups in society. This social phenomenon takes a toll on the lives of under-privileged humans that are excluded based on stereotypes. The infamous norm of being white, male, and heterosexual is the standard that people are compared against. If you are seen otherwise, then you are believed to be inferior and disadvantaged. With oppression and discrimination, violence is a reoccurring factor that can be direct, indirect, physical, personal and/or psychologically. Our duty as social workers is to advance human rights and promote social and economic justice. We must understand the elements of oppression and how they operate and affect the victims of oppression before attempting to help them. I am empowered to engage in confronting oppression specifically for the adolescent population. I would like to aim my concentration to this group because I believe that starting young is beneficial. I see them as a vulnerable population because of the fact that they are young and nave. People tend to be oblivious when it comes to being culturally competent. It is evident that in our society, the first generation population was brought up in a time era where oppression and discrimination were high. That is why our generation is exposed to all -isms of society. Whether it is racism, sexism, classism, feminism, or ageism, we are part of the biggest movement in history: the fight for equality. In order to eradicate such acts of hate, we need to work to engage individuals in more diverse settings starting at a young age. For example, we could increase the amount of cultural events that elementary schools hold or we could work to create after-school programs. These programs could be directed towards the purpose of diversity. Hiring multi-cultural staff members could also help increase collaboration of ethnically diverse children. Involving youth in ethnic foods fundraisers, cultural arts festivals, and fieldtrips to surrounding ethnic communities are all ways we could increase awareness. We can even organize informative services/classes specifically for adults with kids on how to strive to be a culturally competent family as well. The goals I have identified with are those of which every social worker should seek to accomplish in their field of interest. Every day, I seek to understand other cultures and their functions and look for their strengths rather than weaknesses. I am working to boost my knowledge of these cultures in order to provide the appropriate service they need and be sensitive to their differences. The education I am receiving now will only help me understand the role of oppression and how to respect the aspects of what it affects (sex, race, beliefs, age, ethnicity, etc). Maintaining and abiding by all these standards and principals will be a tough act to follow. However, as an ally to the adolescent population, it is my life long goal to advocate human rights and social/economic justice.