(Optional) Identify the components of cultural competence in human services careers.

Identification should include

  • awareness of one's cultural worldview,
  • attitude toward cultural differences
  • knowledge of cultural practices, worldviews, and cross-cultural skills.

Developing cultural competence results in an ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures.

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

  • How can cultural worldview influence an individual’s career success in human services?
  • Why is it important to have a positive attitude when dealing with cultural differences?
  • What knowledge of cultural practices, worldviews, and cross-cultural skills is needed of an individual in a human services career?

Communication

  • What background knowledge would be needed by an individual working in human services to understand someone from a different culture?
  • How can cultural competence assist in effectively communicating with someone from a different culture?
  • How could a human services professional successively interact with someone when a communication barrier exists?

Leadership

  • How can leaders in human services be prepared to handle cultural differences?
  • How can leaders in this pathway prepare others to relate to individuals they may interact with from other cultures?
  • What leadership skills may be needed to enable a leader to be more successful in handling situations dealing with cultural diversity?

Management

  • What training is available to ensure that staff has the needed skill set to work with clients/ customers/coworkers from a different culture in relation to communication, culture differences, and traditions?
  • How should management handle situations when cultural differences are not handled appropriately?