SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Skill Development
Deadrea J. Miller
Karen Watkins, Ph.D., LMSW
Georgia State University
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Abstract
This plan is a set of policies, principles, values and expectations designed for social workers to
increase cultural awareness and efficiently service the client at multiple levels and through crosscultural conditions.
Cultural Competency Action Plan
Ethics and Value: Social worker abides by the core principles, professional values and
expectations of the organization while being conscious of other cultures or ethnic groups.
Micro level: Social worker walks in the discipline of professional ethics, values, and respects the
confines of the client at all time. Mezzo level: A culturally competent organization provides
social workers continuous training with regards to social work practices, in ethics, professional
values, and diverse cultures. Macro level: Social worker attends regional or national training,
conferences, and symposiums for continuous education for the importance of ethics and
profession values in social work practice. Available Resources: Organization Policies of Ethics
and Value in the Workplace and National Association of Social Worker Code of Ethics.
Self-Awareness: A social worker identifies both personal and professional strength, weakness,
prejudice, bias opinions, competence levels and beliefs toward controversial issues. Examining
these areas increases professional proficiencies in social work practices. Micro level: The social
worker modifies beliefs and procedures per the individual needs of the client. Mezzo level: A
culturally competent organization provides social workers. Macro level: A Social Work addresses
social structural issues for positive outcomes and cultural competency. Available Resources:
(Social Work with Miltary Veterans and Family Members, n.d.) (International Association Social
Work with Diverse Groups, Military and Veteran, n.d.)Social Worker (MVF-SW).
Cross-Cultural Knowledge: A social worker must be able to cross-over multi-cultural, traditional,
denominational, spiritual, institutional, ethnic boundaries to deliver social services to the
community or clients. Micro level: The social worker and client identify the current situation.
Mezzo level: The social worker intermingles with support or resource systems to better assist the
customer. Macro level: The social worker research laws or policies governing the social need or
problems. Available Resources: National Association of Multicultural Social Workers
Cross-Cultural Skill: A social worker must utilize different strategies and various settings to
communicate effectively to multi-cultural groups regardless of their ability, disability, sexual
orientation or religious belief. Micro level: The social and client formulate solutions and obtain
support systems or resources for the current situation.
Available Resources: National Association of Multicultural Social Workers
(Code of Ethics, n.d.) (Social Work with Veterans, n.d.)
Service Delivery: A social worker must exercise cultural awareness and understanding while
serving diverse groups. Micro level: A social worker must be prepared to shift mentality and
procedures to address the need of the client. Mezzo level: The organization implement a sensing
session for social workers to articulate their concerns. Macro level: The organization connects
with networking systems, policies or institutions to modify existing methods if needed. Available
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Resources: Military Service Members, Veterans, and Their FamiliesSocial Worker (MVFSW).
Empowerment and Advocacy: A social work exhibit insight on current social, economic, political
and environmental programs or systems and the change affects of diverse groups. Micro level:
The social worker and client identify the social need for advocacy.
Mezzo level: The social worker outlines the concerns, value or issue of the customer regarding
support and or empowerment. Macro level: Advocacy and Empowerment in need for fairness
and social justice for the community, sub-population or groups. Advocating for justice with local,
state, and federal policies regarding the current issue at hand. Available Resources: Social
Welfare Action Alliance and Military Service Members, Veterans, and Their FamiliesSocial
Worker (MVF-SW).
Diverse Workforce: A culturally competent social worker is an associate of diversified social
work teams. Micro level: The social worker incorporates workplace diversity and its
contributions to the team. Mezzo level: Social workers with diverse backgrounds add value,
skills, and cultural experience to the workforce competency plan. Macro level: A diversified
workforce increases cultural awareness on a wider level as the team suitcases its languages,
communication, cultural knowledge, and skills to provide community or global services to
clients. Available Resources: International Association Social Work with Diverse Group and
Military Service Members, Veterans, and Their FamiliesSocial Worker (MVF-SW)
Professional Education: A social worker seeks self-improvement for the expansion of cultural
competency, the understanding of the various oppressions, and improvements in social work
practices. Micro: The social worker takes the lead to be technically and tactically proficient with
social service agendas and maintaining an exceptional level of cultural awareness and
competency. Available Resources: School Social Work Association of America
Language and Communication Diversities: A social worker displays effective communication
skills for both client and service providers of diverse groups. Failure to do so impacts social care
services. Micro level: A social worker must have a clear understanding of the issue that
communicated, disparity, and diversity. Mezzo level: A social worker analyzes communications,
interprets and identifies strategies to meet the social service needs of diverse groups. Macro
level: Available Resources: Actions of Social Work and Communication Practices
Leadership to Advance Cultural Competence: A social worker must advise, bring up to date or
diversities issues to Chief professionals. Mezzo: Social workers must be capable of articulating
clients culture, history, lingo, background, issues and other relevant information whereas the
customer can receive the quality service, treatment or care. Macro level: Social Workers are
change agents through policy and advocacy. Available Resources: Association of Community
Organizations and Social Work Practices and Social Work and Practice with Veterans and Family
members.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Social Action Plan
Understanding mechanism of oppression and discrimination against various groups defined but
not limited to groups, it is the intimidation, harassment, made invisible and inferior of the
dominant group. The goal for growth and development and confronting vulnerable populations
executed by joining the Atlanta Chapter National Association of Social Workers (NASW). As a
BSW Candidate, continuing education, professional expansion, advocacy, and credentials are
well within reach. As a part of the Atlanta NASW Chapter, this community has helped with
available social work resources and opportunities which allow a candidate to achieve success for
advancement in social work efforts. The plan as an ally for to advancement of human rights,
social and economic justice as a social work practitioner geared towards displaced and
transitioning veterans. As a Social Worker working in the Veteran Treatment Court, plans are to
advocate social and economic justice for displaced veterans. Handling veterans' cases and linking
them to the appropriate veterans social programs, benefits, services and as well as being a liaison
to the Department Veterans Affairs. The pursuit of Forensic Social Work through Veterans
Treatment Court are future goals. The ten standards of Cultural Competencies serves as the
navigation system to keep social work practices in alignment.
Post Reflection Experience
Social Work Cultural Competencies Self- Assessment Pre-and Post-Test Scores: 110/144
Social Work Cultural Competencies with Culturally Diverse Groups and Social and Economic
Justice Pre-and Post-Test Scores: 252/ 270. The assessment scores improved with the help of
assignments A-D, in becoming culturally inclined to diverse cultures or groups. Each assignment
a different shaped puzzle piece. As the puzzle completes itself; the picture help unmasks and
confronts prejudices shaped by attitudes, values family culture, and community associations. It
has also shown the strength and change agents of family culture.
Becoming more sensitive in the reflections of others, the addressing or interactions with diverse
groups. The journey eliminated personal biases, beliefs, and stereotypes to service the client
adequately. This course has helped separated strong personal feelings by looking at the
completed puzzle and changing the lens to see the world and groups differently. The pre-score
reflected attitude, however, the post scores reflects competency and set of lenses. New skill sets,
cultural competence standards, student interaction groups, presentations, and a host academic
readings have developed this BSW candidate into a culturally diverse and competent social
worker with continuing room for professional improvement.
References Cited:
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Code of Ethics. (n.d.). Retrieved from [Link]
[Link]
International Association Social Work with Diverse Groups, Military, and Veteran.
(n.d.). Retrieved from [Link] [Link]
National Association of Social Workers. (n.d.). Retrieved from
[Link] [Link]
Social Work with Miltary Veterans and Family Members. (n.d.). Retrieved from
[Link]
[Link]
Social Work with Veterans. (n.d.). Retrieved from [Link]
[Link]