RUNNING HEAD: Personal Work plan

Personal Work Plan for Cultural Competence

Alyssa Dannhausen
Wayne State University
SW 3110
April 19, 2015

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Self- assessment of beginning cultural competence

When I first started this course, I was not very competent in different cultures. I knew of
the other cultures and that many of them really differed from my own, but I had no knowledge of
how other cultures lived and what they practiced. I know that the United States was made up of a
lot of cultures and mainly a few dominant ones, but I did not know much about the other cultures
(Appleby, Colon, Hamilton, 2011, pp. 17).
My family was not particularly diverse or even really exposed to different cultures. I was very
limited and had only known the basis of most cultures. I still feel I have a lot to learn.
The main cultures that I am familiar with would be my own, which is western American
culture and the LGBT culture, but I am passionate about it and I would love to see equal rights!
Growing up my family was on the racist side and it bothered me to my core. I have a hard time
listening to people judge and talk about someone because of who they are. I truly believe that
growing up around hate molded me into the person I am today, a person who wants to create a
judgment-free and accepting world.

What have you learned in the course?

During our course, I was able to find out about other cultures and their feelings toward
seeking help. I found out that Latinos are very resistance towards seeking help outside of the
family, so my approach toward that client would have to be different and more personable. I also
learned a lot about the Native American culture. The most meaningful thing I learned was about
the Native Americans. I found that topic very interesting because my family has some Native
heritage but I still do not know much about it. I want to learn more about different cultures
because I want to be competent and a skilled worker and to be prepared for situations with my

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clients that may occur.

I enjoyed learning about the different cultures and the people within them. I feel
like I was wanting more and more from the book on how different cultures are perceived in our
society, compared to what they really are. I never knew that the Native Americans were that
much into the spiritual world and that our work as a social worker needs to be based on that.
One assignment that really helped me to see into other cultures/populations was the group
PowerPoint assignment and the Matrix that went along with it. It allowed me to see into many
different cultures at once and see how they were alike and how they differed.
What does this mean for my practice?
One culture that may be difficult for me to work with would be the Latino population,
due to that fact that they are particularly thrilled about seeking help outside of the family. It takes
a lot for this culture to open up to someone who is not his or her family. My approach would
need to be significantly different. I will need to very laid back and personable to the client, and
allow them to trust me. I do not have much background with this culture, however I have an
easier time being personable and allowing my client to trust me. I feel like I can adjust to
different situations and get a feel for my clients attitude and work with it to allow the client to
open up.
One population that may be difficult for me to work with is the one population I really
want to work with, Children. I have such a passion for children and making sure that their needs
will be met. My fear is that my emotions will get the best of me and it will make an issue for me.
I do think I will need to overcome this barrier and it will happen with time. I think the only thing
that will allow me to overcome this barrier is to continue to work with them and learn to switch
my emotions into another gear. Allowing myself to use my emotions to give the children a better

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life will help me.

What more do I need to know?
I really want to learn more about Middle Eastern cultures because of the way society is
right now. There is a lot of hate crimes that are happening against the Middle Eastern population
and they need help. If people were properly educated on the culture and learn that they arent
exactly what our society sees them as, it would be easier to stop the hate.
Action Steps
To increase my cultural competence I plan on researching many of the cultures that I am no
familiar with or that I do not completely understand. Doing this research will allow me to gain
knowledge for each of the cultures/populations that I need to know more about I would also like
to continue volunteering at different agencies that provide services for different populations.
Allowing me to physically be around the cultures that I am not familiar with will give me hands
on experience and not just what a book says. When I am put into situations of being around
diverse people, I will observe and be apart of what is going on so I can see how these
cultures/populations act in society. I will also be sure to always be non-judgmental and to allow
myself, and my knowledge, to grow. To do this I will always need an open mind about people
and the work that I do.

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Resources
Appleby, G., Colon, E., & Hamilton, J. (2001). Culture, Social Class, and Social Identity
Development. In Diversity, oppression, and social functioning: Person-in-environment
assessment and intervention (3r ed., p. 17). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.