Moving from Cultural Competence to Intersectional Practices

Transcription

1 Moving from Cultural Competence to Intersectional Practices MELANIE FERGUSON, MSSW, LCSW DIRECTOR OF SHELTER OPERATIONS, YWCA OKLAHOMA CITY Group Agreements What Is Cultural Competence? AND HOW IS IT TAUGHT? 1

2 Cultural competence is the ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures. In practice, both individuals and organizations can be culturally competent. Culture must be considered at every step of the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). Culture is a term that goes beyond just race or ethnicity. It can also refer to such characteristics as age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, income level, education, geographical location, or profession. -SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (SAMHSA) Cultural and linguistic competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations. 'Culture' refers to integrated patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups. 'Competence' implies having the capacity to function effectively as an individual and an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by consumers and their communities. (Adapted from Cross, 1989). CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) What Challenges or Barriers Exist When Using a Cultural Competence Approach? WHERE DOES IT FALL SHORT? WHAT ARE THE (PROBLEMATIC) IMPLICATIONS? 2

3 Revisions to the NASW Code of Ethics related to Standard 1.05 included a change to the title from Cultural Competence and Social Diversity to Cultural Awareness and Social Diversity. The rationale for this change was based on literature and the ongoing discussion about whether it is realistic that social workers actually become competent in all cultures. It was determined that a more realistic expectation is that social workers continuously seek knowledge and improve their skills and ability to meet the needs of people of diverse cultures and backgrounds. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS (NASW) What Is Intersectionality? Intersectionality Origins Kimberlé Crenshaw - generally credited with coining the term in 1989 in reference to the unique experiences of black women in the work place (looking specifically at the intersection of race and gender) The idea of intersecting experiences of oppression has been around much longer and discussed in various ways (e.g. The Combahee River Collective Statement in 1977) The definition has continued to expand and evolve 3

4 Intersectionality is a way of understanding and analyzing the complexity in the world, in people, and in human experiences. The events and conditions of social and political life and the self can seldom be understood as shaped by one factor. They are generally shaped by many factors in diverse and mutually influencing ways. When it comes to social inequality, people s lives and the organization of power in a given society are better understood as being shaped not by a single axis of social division, be it race or gender or class, but by many axes that work together and influence each other. PATRICIA HILL COLLINS (INTERSECTIONALITY) Intersectionality is an analytic framework which attempts to identify how interlocking systems of power impact those who are most marginalized in society. (Wikipedia, based on an article by Brittney Cooper) #RaceAnd (from Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation) VIDEOS ACTIVITY Implications & Strategies for Victim Services PERSONAL (MICRO) LEVEL ORGANIZATIONAL (MEZZO) LEVEL SYSTEMS (MACRO) LEVEL 4

5 Personal (Micro) Level Organizational (Mezzo) Level Systems (Macro) Level 5

6 Next Steps Q&A 6