Cultural competency practice with Southeast-Asian families in child welfare

Project (M.S.W., Social Work) -- California State University, Sacramento, 2010.The association between culturally competent practice and treatment outcomes among Southeast Asians has become recognized in the field of social work. However, cross-cultural challenges continue to exist, particularly in one field of social work ??? child welfare practice. In an attempt to ameliorate cross-cultural challenges child welfare workers face, this descriptive study provides recommendations of how child welfare agencies, particularly Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services Child Protective Services, can improve its practice with its Southeast Asian clientele. Thirty six Sacramento County child welfare workers discussed their knowledge, challenges, agency resources, familiarity with services relevant to the needs of this group, and their perceptions of what should be systematically changed in order to improve services delivery to this group. The results showed that cultural competency is important in child welfare practice, but is, however, limited in all three of the micro, meso, and macro levels. The study???s findings show that current child welfare workers are limited in their skills to effectively service Southeast Asian clients as a result of ineffective and inadequate training, lack of consultation support, and lack of programs and community resources, particularly family therapy and mental health outreach programs. To ensure better outcome, these researchers recommend the focus of cultural competency training be shifted more towards knowledge acquisition and skill development. The researchers also recommend increasing bicultural workers in the child welfare workforce, and providing workers with consultation and support regarding service delivery and decision making. Lastly, the researchers recommend increasing the collaboration between the child welfare agency and the Southeast Asian communities by expanding community resources. Yoriko Sakuma and Ana Nguyen worked together and contributed equally to this research project.Social Wor