Culturally Informed Social Work Practice
Based on the person you interviewed, choose one cultural aspect that you will focus on to identify a peer-reviewed academic article that highlights evidenced-based clinical practices for individuals who have this cultural aspect (like race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, class, ability, etc etc ) AND a social work problem of your interest.
For example, if my partner is a white female, middle-aged, heterosexual.individual, I would choose one of those characteristics that were shared with me and one social work problem I am interested in learning more about how to interview with (depression, substance use, homelessness, domestic violence). The problem will come from your interest and is not related to your peers sharing. I would use keywords like heterosexual females domestic violence and evidence-based practice to see what articles I can find. Students will need to play around with different search terms to find an article that may combine this effectively- this is similar to what social workers must do in the field to learn more about the best practices for their particular clients. You will summarize this article in a paragraph or two (using paraphrasing, not quotes, and in-text citations per APA format) and then describe how it will inform your potential work with a person that may have these characteristics.
Sample Answer
Cultural Aspect: Race (African American)
Social Work Problem: Substance Use Disorder
Peer-Reviewed Article:
A study by Neighbors, Lee, Lewis, and Pollard (2017) examined the impact of racial discrimination on substance use among African Americans. The researchers found that perceived racial discrimination was significantly associated with increased substance use, particularly among African American men. The study highlights the importance of addressing racial discrimination as a social determinant of health and a factor contributing to substance use disorders.
Implications for Social Work Practice:
This research emphasizes the need for culturally competent social work practice when working with African American clients who struggle with substance use. By understanding the unique experiences of racial discrimination and its impact on