Cultural Competency Flashcards
7 cards from real SSW practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Cultural Competency flashcards as text
A school social worker notices that a Native American student frequently avoids direct eye contact with teachers. The most culturally competent interpretation is:
Answer: Eye contact avoidance may reflect a cultural norm of respect
In many Native American cultures, avoiding direct eye contact with authority figures is a sign of respect, not defiance or anxiety.
When working with recently immigrated families, a school social worker should prioritize:
Answer: Understanding acculturation stress and its impact on family dynamics
Acculturation stress significantly affects immigrant families' well-being, and understanding it is central to providing culturally competent services.
A Latino family declines mental health services for their child, saying 'We handle problems within the family.' The school social worker should:
Answer: Respect familismo as a cultural value and explore family-centered support options
Familismo is a strong cultural value in Latino culture emphasizing family unity, and competent practice involves working within this framework.
Which concept describes the process by which individuals adopt the cultural norms of the dominant society while maintaining elements of their culture of origin?
Answer: Biculturalism
Biculturalism refers to the ability to function effectively in two cultures simultaneously, maintaining heritage while adopting aspects of the new culture.
A school social worker is conducting an assessment with a Hmong family through an interpreter. Which practice is most important?
Answer: Speaking directly to the family and allowing the interpreter to translate
Speaking directly to the family maintains dignity and relationship-building, even when using an interpreter.
The NASW Standards for Cultural Competence emphasize that cultural competency is best understood as:
Answer: A lifelong developmental process requiring ongoing self-reflection
Cultural competency is an ongoing, lifelong process of self-awareness, knowledge acquisition, and skill development.
A school social worker from a collectivist cultural background is working with a student who values individualism. What is the most competent approach?
Answer: Recognize personal bias and center the student's individual cultural framework
Self-awareness of one's own cultural values and centering the client's framework are hallmarks of culturally competent practice.