Home > Conference Calendar > 13th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect > Presentations Abstracts > PRACTICE-BASED CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN CHILD PROTECTION

PRACTICE-BASED CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN CHILD PROTECTION

PRECONFERENCE F

Linda S. Spears
Caren Kaplan
Child Welfare League of America
440 First Street, NW
3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20001

PRACTICE-BASED CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN CHILD PROTECTION

Front-line workers face the complex challenge of helping children and families achieve safety, permanence, and well-being on a daily basis. Adding cultural dimensions can make this job seem insurmountable. However, the opportunity to build knowledge and skills in this area can dramatically increase the likelihood of achieving positive outcomes for those served.

This seminar will provide an opportunity for direct service professionals to examine their own "cultural baseline" and enhance their ability to respond competently to the unique needs of diverse populations served by child welfare agencies. Discussion topics include:

• Definitions of "cultural dimensions" and "cultural baseline"
• Cultural competence continuum organizational and individual stages of competence
• Concepts for analyzing and creating culturally competent policy and programs
• Challenges and opportunities in developing culturally competent policy and programs, and the "mechanics" of writing them
• How policy supports practice
• Culturally competent program development
• Culturally competent interventions and behaviors

Most presentations on cultural competence are limited to values and concepts. This seminar will expand the discussion to address responsive practice interventions and individual behaviors that are culturally appropriate and relevant to direct service workers as well as administrators.

Updated on February 24, 2010