Communicating for Cultural Competence

Today, more than ever, workers in the helping professions face a culturally diverse society in which they will engage marginalized individuals. Students and practitioners of social work need to understand how these people experience the world. To that end, Leigh first provides background on becoming a culturally competent social worker and then focuses on the beginning stage of the helping process--interviewing. This much-needed text features a highly regarded ethnographic interview model that casts clients in the role of experts on their own lives. Readers learn how to gather information that fosters a positive relationship between helper and client, eventually leading to a culturally congruent assessment and treatment plan. In addition, end of chapter exercises; excerpts of interviews; and detailed information on assessment, negotiated consensus treatment planning, and culturally relevant interventions enhance readers' learning experience.