The Influence of Cultural Sensitivity in Social Work Practice with Immigrants

Borrero, Manuela Ángela Fernández; Aguado, Octavio Vázquez; Pérez, Pablo Álvarez

doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcu113

Cited by 23 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Finally, the last challenge “background and competence of social workers” that the participants experienced was dictated by the need to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to be able to relate to and support the family of migrants. As also underlined in the literature, in fact, the intercultural knowledge and skills necessary to work in a multicultural context are considered fundamental (Fernández-Borrero et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parenting in migration: Critical aspects and challenges of “doing family” of refugee families and social workers

Rania

Pinna

Coppola

2021

Journal of Social Work

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Summary Although migrant families comprise a small number of immigrants, they present a significant challenge for the host community. In the Italian context, social services support migrant families through paths to autonomy and integration in the community. The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions that families and social workers have of “parenting” and “doing family” (training and management of family identity, roles and daily practices) in the complexity of migration. The study involved 15 immigrant parental couples, using family interview techniques and 12 social workers in 3 mini-focus groups. The collected materials were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using grounded theory. Findings The main results are identified and discussed as strengths, critical points and challenges. Some of the themes such as “willingness to work” or “lack of job opportunities” are common to both family members and social workers. Other themes are relevant to one group only. Among these, “availability and support of social workers” only emerged among families, whereas “education and respecting the rules” only emerged among social workers. Applications The results indicate that it is necessary for social workers to engage in a meaningful helping relationship with families, build networks of inclusion services, and also with the support of mediators overcome linguistic and cultural barriers. Social workers should involve families throughout he integration process. Furthermore, social services must also consider how families experience the difficulty of relating to social workers, which represents an obstacle to support for social integration.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parenting in migration: Critical aspects and challenges of “doing family” of refugee families and social workers

Rania

Pinna

Coppola

2021

Journal of Social Work

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“…This research is informed by Anti‐Colonialism (Smith, 2012), Critical Race Feminism (Razack et al, 2010), Cultural Sensitivity/Informed Approach (Fernandaz‐Borrero et al, 2016) and Critical Intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1991). Anti‐colonialism challenges structures that continue to uphold systems of oppression and marginalization, while the same structures promote notions of universality and equality (Smith, 2012).…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From this perspective, patriarchy refers to all social relations where any individual or group is subjugated to the interests of another against their will based on their race (Razack et al, 2010). A cultural sensitivity informed approach (Fernandez‐Borrero et al, 2016) “promotes attitudes of recognition, respect, tolerance,” (p. 448) and ensures that marginalization, alienation, and silencing of individuals ceases to occur based on Eurocentric norms. Critical Intersectionality recognizes multiple intersecting forms of oppressions as, “there is no such thing as a single‐issue struggle because we do not live single‐issue lives” (Audre Lorde, 1982 as cited by Tabibi et al, 2018).…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

In search of interdisciplinary, holistic and culturally informed services: The case of racialized immigrant women experiencing domestic violence in Ontario

George

Medhekar²,

Chaze

et al. 2022

Family Court Review

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Domestic Violence (DV) is a social issue concerning all women, but not all women are oppressed or impacted in the same way. This paper draws on an analysis of fifteen closed Family Law case files of racialized immigrant women in Ontario who experienced DV to examine gaps in services and suggest interventions to fill these gaps. The findings reveal that these women and their children experience multiple and intersecting oppressions. Significantly, few existing services recognize the multiple intersecting vulnerabilities, systemic barriers in the host country, or other socio‐political, economic, and cultural realities these women face. Our research reveals a lack of coordination between different institutions providing services to these women. To respond to these gaps, the authors recommend developing interdisciplinary, holistic and culturally‐informed services offered at a single location to support racialized immigrant women and their children as they navigate the complicated path out of the traumatic entrapment of DV.

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“…Saunders, Haskins, and Vasquez (2015) argue that professionals and street-level workers must be trained in cultural competence and cultural sensitivity in order to provide better services. According to Fernández-Borrero et al (2016), training in cultural diversity and cultural knowledge brings a greater degree of cultural awareness and responsiveness to services. An awareness of culture thus ensures the recognition of differences and acknowledges "the other" (Ploesser & Mecheril, 2012).…”

Section: Cultural Diversity and Welfare Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several concepts have been formulated in response to the perceived inadequacy of welfare services to manage the multicultural reality. The most frequently used are cultural sensitivity (Fernández‐Borrero, Vázquez‐Aguado, & Álvarez‐Pérez, 2016), cultural awareness (Jackson & Samuels, 2011), and cultural competence (Jani et al, 2016). Although the terms overlap, all entail an awareness of culture, one's own and/or that of others .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“I don't know what to do—Could it be cultural?” The operationalization of cultural sensitivity among street‐level workers in the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration

Volckmar‐Eeg

2020

Soc Policy Adm

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Faced with increased global migration and a more ethnically diverse clientele, several studies stress the need for more culturally sensitive welfare services. Others warn that the focus on culture might lead to the culturalization and othering of clients from ethnic minority or migrant backgrounds. In the Norwegian context, cultural sensitivity is implemented in policy documents of the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) to improve services for immigrant clients. However, the operationalization of cultural sensitivity into service delivery remains unscrutinized. Based on ethnographic fieldwork at a frontline NAV-office, this article unpacks the practical work embedded in being culturally aware, by exploring the circumstances in which street-level workers factor culture into their comprehension and consideration of a case. The article employs a processoriented approach to its analysis of caseworkers' discussion of cases. Findings show that caseworkers explicitly consider culture mainly when cases appear diffuse and intangible. The caseworkers discuss plausible explanations to make sense of these cases, only one of which is culture. Thus, the caseworkers distinguish culture from the client's ethnicity or migrant background. These findings refine the perception of street-level workers' inability to respond to questions of

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The Influence of Cultural Sensitivity in Social Work Practice with Immigrants

Cited by 23 publications

References 8 publications

Parenting in migration: Critical aspects and challenges of “doing family” of refugee families and social workers

Parenting in migration: Critical aspects and challenges of “doing family” of refugee families and social workers

In search of interdisciplinary, holistic and culturally informed services: The case of racialized immigrant women experiencing domestic violence in Ontario

“I don't know what to do—Could it be cultural?” The operationalization of cultural sensitivity among street‐level workers in the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration

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