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Vol.
4, No. 1
February
1999
A
Look at Cultural Competency
"Cultural competence."
By now you've heard the term; perhaps you've even attended a professional
training event where the topic was addressed.
And when you heard or
learned about it, you probably thought it sounded like a good, if
somewhat obvious idea. After all, understanding and accepting differences
in others is something everyone has to do to get along in this world,
isn't it?
Yet many have found
that consciously, formally integrating the elements of cultural
competence into their work with birth families, foster families,
and coworkers can be hard to do. Culturally competent practice involves
analyzing yourself and your society, facing your biases and ignorance,
and examining mistakes you may have made in the past. And it requires
a commitment to constant learning and openness.
That's
a pretty tall order, especially when you have to keep an eye on
your caseload at the same time. This issue of Practice Notes
is dedicated to reminding you why it is worth the effort, and to
giving you a leg up on this daunting, rewarding challenge.
Contents
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