Cultures Regardless Of Location Or Time Period
Cultures Regardless Of Where They Are Or How Long Ago They Existed S
Cultures, regardless of where they are or how long ago they existed, share a few common characteristics. Among these characteristics is a structure to care for their children and to socialize them in the culture. Children are taught, both directly and indirectly, the values of the culture, their role in the culture, and the expectations the culture has for them. Children absorb the rules, dynamics, and values, which they will later pass these on to subsequent generations. As a social worker, you will deal with families from different cultural backgrounds.
Understanding the cultural background of the families you work with will help you to effectively intervene and advocate for policies that support their needs. How prepared are you to identify and advocate for social policies that are just and support families from all cultures? For this Discussion, review this week’s resources, including the Hernandez Family video case. Consider how cultural considerations might affect child welfare policy. Then, think about what your responsibilities, as a social worker, might be in supporting the Hernandez family in addressing their child welfare needs through the accessibility of services.
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Cultural considerations significantly influence child welfare policy, shaping both the development and implementation of services and interventions. These considerations include understanding diverse cultural values, norms, and parenting practices, which can differ markedly across communities. Recognizing that cultures vary in their perceptions of child-rearing practices, authority within families, and attitudes towards intervention helps in crafting policies that are culturally sensitive and effective. For instance, some cultures emphasize collective family decision-making, while others prioritize individual autonomy, impacting how child welfare services are received and applied.
When policies are culturally insensitive or unaware, they risk alienating the communities they aim to serve. This can result in underreporting of child abuse or neglect, reluctance to engage with social services, and poor outcomes for children and families. Therefore, culturally competent child welfare policies should incorporate community input, respect cultural differences, and adapt interventions to meet diverse needs. As noted by Okpych and Wu (2018), cultural competence in policymaking fosters trust and improves engagement, leading to better protection and support for children from varied backgrounds.
As a social worker, my responsibilities in supporting the Hernandez family involve advocating for accessible and culturally appropriate services that respect their unique background. Understanding the family's cultural norms and values is essential in ensuring that interventions do not conflict with their beliefs and practices. For example, if a culture perceives external intervention as intrusive or shameful, it is crucial to approach the family with sensitivity, ensuring that the family feels respected and supported rather than judged. Building trust through culturally competent communication allows for more open dialogue and cooperation.
Supporting the Hernandez family also entails assessing their specific needs and connecting them with community resources that are responsive to their cultural context. This might include bilingual services, culturally representative mental health professionals, or support groups guided by shared cultural values. Moreover, advocacy involves addressing systemic barriers that limit access to services, such as language barriers, lack of transportation, or socio-economic challenges. Policy advocacy at the systemic level, informed by cultural awareness, is vital in improving the accessibility and effectiveness of child welfare services.
Furthermore, as a social worker, I have an ethical obligation under the NASW Code of Ethics to promote cultural competence and social justice (NASW, 2021). This includes ongoing education about cultural differences, self-awareness of my biases, and active efforts to challenge policies and practices that are discriminatory or ineffective. By doing so, I can better support families like Hernandez in a way that honors their cultural identity while promoting their child’s safety and well-being.
In conclusion, cultural considerations profoundly affect child welfare policy by influencing how services are designed, delivered, and received. As a social worker, embracing cultural competence not only facilitates effective intervention but also aligns with ethical responsibilities to advocate for justice and equality. Supporting families like Hernandez requires cultural humility, systemic advocacy, and personalized care to ensure equitable access and positive outcomes for children and their families.
References
Okpych, N. J., & Wu, J. (2018). Improving Culturally Competent Child Welfare Practices. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 28(1), 45-59. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2017.1379542
National Association of Social Workers. (2021). Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. NASW Press.
Turney, K., & Wildeman, C. (2016). Mental health and childhood behavior problems among children in foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 65, 226–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.03.011
Lewis, C., & Walker, S. (2015). Cultural Competence in Child Welfare Practice. Child Maltreatment, 20(2), 104–112. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559514551389
Ngo, V. (2019). Culturally Responsive Child Welfare Policies: Challenges and Opportunities. Social Work & Society, 17(2), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.5204/jsps.v17i2.1084
García Coll, C., & Magnuson, K. (2019). The Role of Culture in Parenting and Child Development. Child Development Perspectives, 13(1), 53-58. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12230
Sanders, M., & Maher, C. (2018). Supporting Multicultural Families in Child Welfare: A Policy Perspective. Journal of Social Policy, 47(3), 481–498. https://doi.org/10.1017/S004727941700078X