I really liked how you defined cultural humility. I agree that individuals do not know everything
about one’s culture, we must be willing to be open to learning and understanding that every
culture is different. Even those who identify with the same culture do not have the same life
experiences or traditions. It’s so important to hold yourself accountable when working with
clients from another culture. I liked how you said “being aware that you are not aware, and being
okay with it” because that’s how an individual can grow and continue to learn. Do you believe
cultural competence is an ongoing process like cultural humility? Or do you believe there's an
end point to cultural competence?
Describe a potential barrier to culturally competent practice a social worker might face.
A potential barrier to culturally competent practice that a social worker might face is their own
cultural biases and assumptions. Social workers may come from a certain cultural background
and their own experiences may influence their understanding of other cultures. This can create a
barrier to effective practice when working with clients from diverse backgrounds. In this case,
the social worker may not fully understand or appreciate the cultural values, traditions, or
experiences of their clients.
Recommend a skill your colleague might use to address this barrier.
A skill that a social worker might use to address this barrier of cultural biases and assumptions is
active listening. Active listening involves not only hearing what the client is saying, but also
paying attention to nonverbal cues, asking questions, and seeking to understand the client’s
perspective without judgements or assumptions (Kirst-Ashman et al., 2018). In this situation, the
social worker needs to hold themselves accountable and be open to learning about their client’s
culture while putting their assumptions to the side. By actively listening to their client’s
experiences and beliefs, social workers can gain insight into their cultural perspectives, values,
and needs.
Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2018). Empowerment series: Understanding generalist
practice (8th ed.). CENGAGE Learning.
