Culturally Competent Practice: Skills, Interventions, and Evaluations

by Rowena Fong (Editor), Sharlene B.C.L. Furuto

This comprehensive social work book discusses how to work with clients of four major ethnic backgrounds: African-American, Latino/Hispanic-American, First Nations People, and Asians/Pacific Islanders. The book shows readers how to approach helping by first understanding the world view of each of these groups. Each chapter includes indigenous strategies and/or a biculturalization approach to assessments, interventions, and evaluations. Levels of practice include individuals, families, organizations, and communities. Each chapter includes case vignettes that illustrate the helping strategies. For social workers and social work students interested in culturally competent social work practice, or diversity practice.

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2001

Reviews

[Endira77]

The case studies were intriguing because they showed the detailed, complex situations that people with different values may encounter. My favorite one was the elderly lesbian who was treated as nobody and lost everything when her partner passed away because there were no legal or cultural acknowledgements for her relationship. She was grieving but no one respected her role or showed any sensitivity.

Another insight was how the gay / lesbian movement is perceived as a "white" thing by Asian groups who have to consider the collective shame on their families.