1. SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
WITH DIVERSE
GROUPS

2. Native American Clients
Concept of Noninterference
Withdrawal (emotional/physical)
Changing the subject
Pretending not to hear
Lack of eye contact
Meaning of a firm handshake
Initial lack of trust
Disrespect shown by questioning about personal life

3. African American Clients
Unrealistic empathy
Language barriers
Eurocentric views of human behavior
Focus on individuals
Lack of attention to spirituality
Lack of importance of emotions
Rely on research findings not applicable to African Americans

4. Latino Clients Bilingual challenges Other challenges
longstanding value systems
ethnic backgrounds
socioeconomic factors
languages
behavior patterns

5. Gay and Lesbian Clients
Heterosexism of social workers
Lack of knowledge
Acceptance of stereotypes
Fear of the unknown
Debate over cause is irrelevant
Other issues
Coming out
High suicide rate for adolescents
Hate crimes
Equal rights

6. Feminist Social Work
Many of problems experienced by both men and women today are related to gender inequality:
privileges
power
access to resources
Male and female social workers must be aware of ways that gender shapes a client’s problem.

7. Knowledge Needed for Cross-Cultural Social Work
Knowledge of Self
No substitute for self-awareness
Knowledge of Differences
Cultural factors
Other background factors
History of client group
Language of client group

8. Ethnic-Sensitive Practice
Seeks to incorporate understanding of diverse ethnic, cultural, and minority groups into the theories and principles that guide social work practice.
Based on the view that practice must be attuned to the values and dispositions related to clients’ ethnic group membership and social-class position.
Requires social workers have an in-depth understanding of the effects of oppression on racial and ethnic groups.

9. Ethnic-Sensitive Practice
All people are part of two systems (the dual-perspective):
Dominant system which is the source of power and economic resources
Nurturing system composed of the physical and social environment of family and community.

10. Ethnic-Sensitive Practice
Social workers have an obligation to be aware of and to seek to redress the oppression experienced by ethnic groups.
Introduces no new practice principles or approaches. It urges adaptation of prevailing therapies, social work principles, and skills to account of ethnic reality.

11. Ethnic-Sensitive Practice
Regardless of which practice approach is used, empowerment and the strengths perspective should be emphasized.

12. Ethnic-Sensitive Practice
Empowerment: The process of helping people increase their personal, interpersonal, socioeconomic, and political strength and influence toward improving their circumstances. It counters hopelessness, powerlessness, oppression and poverty.

13. Ethnic-Sensitive Practice
Strengths Perspective: Seeks to identity, use, build, and reinforce individuals’ abilities and strengths, emphasizing their interests, aspirations, resources, beliefs, and accomplishments. This is in contrast to the pathological perspective, which focuses on deficiencies.

14. Macro Strategies to Promote Social Justice
Social programs
Mass media appeals
Civil rights laws
Activism
School busing
Affirmative action programs
Minority-owned businesses
Confronting jokes and actions
Grassroots approaches to improving inner cities

15. Source
Zastrow, C. (2003). The practice of social work. Pacific Grove, CA: Thomson Learning.