The course materials are designed and updated by Dr.

Jessica Chi-mei Li_2015

City University of Hong Kong

Department of Applied Social Sciences
Semester A, 2015-2016
Inquiry into Social Work practice (SS3104)
Globalization, Diversity & Sustainability

1. Keywords: Globalization, Diversity, sustainability, Shared Cultural Knowledge Approach,

The Diversity Based Approach
2. Enquiry:
a. What is the connection between the concept of “sustainability” and social work?
b. To what extent social work profession is affection by globalization?
c. How to achieve culturally competent social work practice?

3. Sustainability and Social Work

3.1. Purpose
- Sustainability ‘creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature
can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other
requirements of present and future generations (the United States Environmental
Protection Agency, 2011)
3.2.Rikin’s (2004) six principles for social work profession to respond to environmental
challenges:
- Adopt an ecological ‘whole system’ perspective;
- Start where people;
- Root practice in place;
- Deepen socio-political analyses;
- Capitalize on strengths and success; and
- Build resilience

4. Globalization and Social Work

4.1. Globalization is usually understood in economic terms, relating to the reduction of trade
barriers, and the willingness of national governments and large international corporates
to cooperate economically (Morgan, 2011, p.37).
- Diverse service users: more individuals or families seeking asylum, fleeting war,
political prosecution or economic collapse  increased demand on culturally
competent practice.
- Diverse social work staff: increased number of overseas training staff, e.g. 25% of all
new social work recruits in UK in 2001-2; 20% in Australia, 12% in the USA… etc.
 indirect or direct experience of being marginalized, stigmatized and excluded?

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 The course materials are designed and updated by Dr. Jessica Chi-mei Li_2015

4.2. The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development: Commitment to Action
(IASSW, ICSW, IFSW, 2012): http://www.globalsocialagenda.org/ , announced five foci
of work in collaboration with the United Nations, Communities and Organizations
2012-2016:
- Promoting social and economic equalities, e.g. decent work and international labour
standard.
- Promoting the dignity and worth of peoples, e.g. the end to discrimination on the
grounds of race and sexual orientation.
- Working toward environmental sustainability, e.g. disaster prevention and
management.
- Strengthening recognition of the importance of human relationships, e.g. policies
aiming at social integration and cohesion.
- Ensuring an appropriate environment for practice and education, e.g. exchange of
knowledge, research… etc.

5. Diversity and Social Work

5.1.Dimensions of difference (Backett & Maynard, 2005)
(1) Ethnicity/ race
(2) Class
(3) Gender
(4) Disability
(5) Age

5.2. Outline for developing diversity competence in social work practice (Johnson & Yanca,
2010, p.41):
- Understanding self (e.g., own attitude and belief about diverse groups)
- Understanding social influences (e.g., past or current stereotypes, prejudice,
discrimination, and oppression in the society)
- Understanding a diverse group (e.g., particular culture and circumstances that make
each group diverse)
- Developing diversity competent practice skills (e.g., relationship building with each
group, values diversity, skills in working with each diverse group).

5.3. Schema for studying individuals and families from diverse ethnic groups
- Overall knowledge of diverse ethnic groups
a) History
b) Significant cultural patterns
c) Family patterns and structure
d) Communication patterns
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 The course materials are designed and updated by Dr. Jessica Chi-mei Li_2015

e) Traditional coping patterns and mechanisms

f) Community structures
g) Current Issues of the group or regarding the group
h) Resource for gaining understanding of group

- Knowledge of the individual or individual family

a) History
b) Value concerns
c) Family system
d) Communication patterns
e) Coping for this particular individual or family
f) Community
g) Issues concerning this family and individual

5.4.Culturally competent social work (Lum, 1999:3)

- “ … a set of knowledge and skills that a social worker must develop in order to be
effective with multi-cultural clients. The culturally competent person has the task of
bringing together elements from his or her culture of origin and the dominant culture
to accomplish bicultural integration and competency”
-
- Integrating cultural competence in intervention (Kirst-Ashman, & Hull, 2012: 446-9)
(1) Engagement: a clear understanding of their own view of world
(2) Assessment: recognizing client system strengths
(3) Planning: adoption of culturally different solutions
(4) Implementation: intervention on individual or family?
(5) Evaluation: involvement of the client directly in evaluation
(6) Termination and follow-up: door open for subsequent contact

References:
Beckett, C., & Maynard, A. (2005). Values and ethics in social work. London: Sage.
Kirst-Ashman, K.K., & Hull, G.H. (2012). Understanding generalist practice. Belmont, CA:
Brooks/ Cole.
Morgan, A. (2011). Diverse service users and diverse workers: the impact of globalization. In J.
Seden, S. Mattheews, M. McCormick, & A. Morgan (eds.).Professional development in
social work: complex issues in practice (pp.37-43).Oxon: Routledge.
Rifkin, J. (2004). The European dream: how Europe’s vision of the future is quietly eclipsing the
American dream. New York: Penguin Group.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (n.d.) What is sustainability? Retrieved on
December 8, 2011 from http://epa.gov/sustainability/basicinfo.htm.
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