Welcome to Unit 5: Understanding Diversity in Practice Robin C. Cooper, LCSW.

Welcome to Unit 5: Welcome to Unit 5: Understanding Diversity in Understanding Diversity in

PracticePractice

Robin C. Cooper, LCSWRobin C. Cooper, LCSW

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Your half way there!!! Your half way there!!! Review grade book- your unit 3 Review grade book- your unit 3

project grades are postedproject grades are postedQuestions??Questions??

Review of Unit 4Review of Unit 4

Apply human service theories to Apply human service theories to identify, plan for, and assess clients identify, plan for, and assess clients needs for interventionneeds for intervention

Unit 4-Key ConceptsUnit 4-Key Concepts

In your past courses, you studied the In your past courses, you studied the relationship between people and their relationship between people and their immediate environment (their homes, immediate environment (their homes, their town/city). If many individuals in a their town/city). If many individuals in a town suffer from the same problem, it is town suffer from the same problem, it is more likely that other social problems will more likely that other social problems will emerge. For example, if a car emerge. For example, if a car manufacturer closes a plant in a town, the manufacturer closes a plant in a town, the unemployment rate of the town increases unemployment rate of the town increases quite a bit.quite a bit.


Social problems often occur as a result Social problems often occur as a result of any one or combination of national, of any one or combination of national, local, family, and individual factors. local, family, and individual factors. Assessing each one of these potential Assessing each one of these potential influences allows human service influences allows human service professionals to create individualized professionals to create individualized intervention plans to help clients solve intervention plans to help clients solve resource or behavioral problems that resource or behavioral problems that stem from these influences.stem from these influences.


To provide appropriate services, human To provide appropriate services, human service professionals must understand service professionals must understand the most common problems of that city the most common problems of that city or town to help clients best. Smaller or town to help clients best. Smaller towns located in rural settings are less towns located in rural settings are less likely to have a significant homeless likely to have a significant homeless population than bigger cities. Thus, population than bigger cities. Thus, there are unlikely to be homeless there are unlikely to be homeless shelters in those towns. shelters in those towns.


Therefore, the recommended intervention for Therefore, the recommended intervention for a homeless client who is in a small town is to a homeless client who is in a small town is to find friends or family members to provide find friends or family members to provide temporary shelter. If this is not possible, temporary shelter. If this is not possible, usually a local church can assist. It is usually a local church can assist. It is important to understand the local important to understand the local environment in order to create appropriate environment in order to create appropriate intervention plans. Sometimes successfully intervention plans. Sometimes successfully linking a client to a service includes linking a client to a service includes advocating for changes in community service advocating for changes in community service offerings or agency offerings.offerings or agency offerings.


Clients never have only one simple Clients never have only one simple problem that is complicating their problem that is complicating their lives. Often, clients face problems lives. Often, clients face problems that seem so insurmountable that that seem so insurmountable that they develop strong emotions such they develop strong emotions such as fear, anger, and/or sadness in as fear, anger, and/or sadness in response to the situation..response to the situation..


These emotions lead to the These emotions lead to the development of behaviors that keep development of behaviors that keep the client feeling stuck in the the client feeling stuck in the situation. Human service professionals situation. Human service professionals help clients to identify these barriers help clients to identify these barriers and help them to create intervention and help them to create intervention plans with the goal of helping them to plans with the goal of helping them to become self-sufficientbecome self-sufficient

EmpowermentEmpowerment

Case Study- TeresaCase Study- Teresa

Assume that you have moved from early Assume that you have moved from early into mid-career and are now responsible for into mid-career and are now responsible for direct client care. It is your responsibility to direct client care. It is your responsibility to assess your client’s problems in relation to assess your client’s problems in relation to their struggles in their environment (e.g., their struggles in their environment (e.g., lack of food) and in their minds (e.g., angry lack of food) and in their minds (e.g., angry about losing a job). In this scenario, you are about losing a job). In this scenario, you are a substance abuse/mental health screener a substance abuse/mental health screener for the Temporary Assistance for Needy for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program at a local One Families (TANF) program at a local One Stop office. Stop office.


In this office are human service professionals who In this office are human service professionals who handle case management, employment training, handle case management, employment training, mental health/substance abuse screenings, and mental health/substance abuse screenings, and public housing assistance. There are also General public housing assistance. There are also General Education Development (GED) teachers on-site. Education Development (GED) teachers on-site.


The purpose of your One Stop office is to provide The purpose of your One Stop office is to provide many services clients might need, allowing them many services clients might need, allowing them to make only one trip to an office rather than to make only one trip to an office rather than many trips to several offices. Your primary task is many trips to several offices. Your primary task is to conduct mental health and substance abuse to conduct mental health and substance abuse screening using the forms required by TANF. screening using the forms required by TANF. Clients cannot receive any assistance from the Clients cannot receive any assistance from the government until their screening is complete. government until their screening is complete. Unfortunately, many of these clients appear in Unfortunately, many of these clients appear in your office in a state of anxiety, anger, and/or your office in a state of anxiety, anger, and/or fear.fear.

Case Study- Teresa- ScenarioCase Study- Teresa- Scenario

Scenario: Mental Health/Substance Abuse Scenario: Mental Health/Substance Abuse Screening for TANFScreening for TANF

You listen to the clock tick on your desk – two You listen to the clock tick on your desk – two more hours and you are free for the weekend. It more hours and you are free for the weekend. It has been a slow Friday because the weather is has been a slow Friday because the weather is nice and it is the middle of the month (no nice and it is the middle of the month (no government checks are due out this week). government checks are due out this week).


You rifle through the files on your desk as You rifle through the files on your desk as you recheck your paperwork for each client you recheck your paperwork for each client when a mother appears at your door with when a mother appears at your door with her six children in tow. She tells you that her six children in tow. She tells you that her name is Teresa and introduces you to her name is Teresa and introduces you to her children one at a time, but they are her children one at a time, but they are wiggling too much for you to connect any wiggling too much for you to connect any names to their faces. During her names to their faces. During her assessment, her children sit on your lap, assessment, her children sit on your lap, pull books off of your bookshelf, cry, and pull books off of your bookshelf, cry, and demand their mother’s attention.demand their mother’s attention.


She reveals that she is a single parent and has She reveals that she is a single parent and has been evicted from her home. Everything that she been evicted from her home. Everything that she could get out of the house is in her van in the could get out of the house is in her van in the parking lot. She tried to get into a homeless shelter parking lot. She tried to get into a homeless shelter but discovered that there was a limit on the but discovered that there was a limit on the number of children allowed per parent and she has number of children allowed per parent and she has too many children. Then she asks you if you have too many children. Then she asks you if you have any food in your office; she and her children are any food in your office; she and her children are hungry because they have not eaten for two days. hungry because they have not eaten for two days. As you move her children from your lap, desk, and As you move her children from your lap, desk, and bookshelves, you ask her other questions to help bookshelves, you ask her other questions to help you to determine what resources that she might you to determine what resources that she might have overlooked.have overlooked.


Using your town’s or city’s resources (do some Using your town’s or city’s resources (do some research), respond to the following questions:research), respond to the following questions:

List all of the other potential problems that the client List all of the other potential problems that the client might have besides being homeless. might have besides being homeless.

What other questions would you ask her to What other questions would you ask her to determine what resources she might have to help determine what resources she might have to help you and her to solve her homeless problem? you and her to solve her homeless problem?

Using your area’s resources, what services might you Using your area’s resources, what services might you add (list the agencies if you can) to her intervention add (list the agencies if you can) to her intervention plan to help her to become self-sufficient? plan to help her to become self-sufficient?

Unit 5Unit 5

No Project Due This UnitNo Project Due This UnitNext Project Unit 6 Next Project Unit 6 Attend SeminarAttend SeminarReview readingsReview readings

Unit 5 OutcomesUnit 5 Outcomes

Assessing clients using ethical Assessing clients using ethical principlesprinciples

Apply knowledge of cultural diversity Apply knowledge of cultural diversity when working with clientswhen working with clients

Human service professionals often Human service professionals often face difficult situations that test their face difficult situations that test their ethical standards and cultural ethical standards and cultural understanding. It is in those difficult understanding. It is in those difficult times that adherence to professional times that adherence to professional guidelines is important because it guidelines is important because it removes the emotions that often removes the emotions that often accompany human services work, accompany human services work, allowing for better decision making.allowing for better decision making.

All human service professionals are called All human service professionals are called mandatory reporters and must make mandatory reporters and must make abuse reports in cases of suspected abuse abuse reports in cases of suspected abuse of minors, senior citizens (many states of minors, senior citizens (many states recognize this as 65 years of age), and recognize this as 65 years of age), and disabled people of any age. While these disabled people of any age. While these laws are clear, the reporting of other laws are clear, the reporting of other situations is less clear. Sometimes human situations is less clear. Sometimes human service professionals do not know how to service professionals do not know how to proceed when there are multiple problems proceed when there are multiple problems that present ethical challenges. During that present ethical challenges. During these times, supervisors and/or agency these times, supervisors and/or agency policy manuals should be consulted.policy manuals should be consulted.

Human service professionals who work for faith-Human service professionals who work for faith-based organizations often have challenges that based organizations often have challenges that are unique to faith- based work. Clients will are unique to faith- based work. Clients will sometimes expect services to be more personal, sometimes expect services to be more personal, occasionally tempting human service occasionally tempting human service professionals to overstep ethical boundaries or professionals to overstep ethical boundaries or become overly involved in the client’s issues. become overly involved in the client’s issues.

Demonstrating sensitivity to clients’ differences Demonstrating sensitivity to clients’ differences (e.g., gender, age, and ethnicity) helps build (e.g., gender, age, and ethnicity) helps build rapport and establishes trust. When clients rapport and establishes trust. When clients believe that someone respects their differences, believe that someone respects their differences, they are more likely to be honest when providing they are more likely to be honest when providing information during assessments or sessions.information during assessments or sessions.

Sometimes, clients will use language or Sometimes, clients will use language or refer to particular family practices that refer to particular family practices that seem odd or even illegal. For this seem odd or even illegal. For this reason, it is important that professionals reason, it is important that professionals develop strong listening and questioning develop strong listening and questioning skills to help determine whether unsafe skills to help determine whether unsafe practices are occurring (e.g., to some practices are occurring (e.g., to some people of other cultures “whooping” is people of other cultures “whooping” is acceptable because it refers to a acceptable because it refers to a spanking though it sounds much worse).spanking though it sounds much worse).

Case StudyCase Study

Diversity in Diversity in PracticePractice

Case Study cont…Case Study cont…

Last week, you helped your Last week, you helped your hypothetical client, Teresa, find hypothetical client, Teresa, find stable shelter, food, and stable shelter, food, and transportation. In this unit, you will transportation. In this unit, you will continue to provide intervention continue to provide intervention services for Teresa and her children services for Teresa and her children as you learn that there are much as you learn that there are much more complicated issues involved in more complicated issues involved in her case.her case.


Scenario:Scenario: Now that you successfully Now that you successfully helped Teresa and her six children to helped Teresa and her six children to move into public housing (months move into public housing (months after the first visit), to find assisted after the first visit), to find assisted daycare, to find her a job, and to daycare, to find her a job, and to provide mental health services for provide mental health services for two of her children, you realize that two of her children, you realize that the family is still not fully stabilized.the family is still not fully stabilized.


Teresa visits your office late one Teresa visits your office late one afternoon as you are getting ready to afternoon as you are getting ready to leave. She only has one of her leave. She only has one of her children, Javier, who is five years old. children, Javier, who is five years old. In past visits, you have noticed that In past visits, you have noticed that he is the only of her six children who he is the only of her six children who is quiet and in fact, seems is quiet and in fact, seems withdrawn. “Tell her!” Teresa withdrawn. “Tell her!” Teresa demands.demands.


Crying quietly, Javier curls up in the chair and Crying quietly, Javier curls up in the chair and refuses to pull his head up. Teresa smacks the refuses to pull his head up. Teresa smacks the back of his head and yells, “I SAID tell her!” This back of his head and yells, “I SAID tell her!” This time, Javier jumps up out of his seat and looks time, Javier jumps up out of his seat and looks right at you. “NO!” he shouts and cries harder. right at you. “NO!” he shouts and cries harder. Trying to make sense of all of this, you firmly ask Trying to make sense of all of this, you firmly ask Teresa to sit in your chair at your desk to Teresa to sit in your chair at your desk to separate mother and child and to keep him from separate mother and child and to keep him from being hit further. being hit further.


You move to the chair beside him and quietly ask You move to the chair beside him and quietly ask if he wants to talk to you in private. He nods. if he wants to talk to you in private. He nods. Teresa agrees to leave and when she does, Javier Teresa agrees to leave and when she does, Javier tells you that his uncle hurt him. After more tells you that his uncle hurt him. After more questions, you understand that Javier is reporting questions, you understand that Javier is reporting sexual abuse. You leave the office and tell Teresa sexual abuse. You leave the office and tell Teresa that you would have to make a call to the abuse that you would have to make a call to the abuse hotline. She understands but insists that nothing hotline. She understands but insists that nothing really happened. She adds, “Good, you can get really happened. She adds, “Good, you can get an officer in here to tell him to stop lying.” You an officer in here to tell him to stop lying.” You make the report.make the report.


When the police leave, you are more baffled When the police leave, you are more baffled than before. The uncle is really the boy’s than before. The uncle is really the boy’s great uncle and should not be living with great uncle and should not be living with them because he is not on the public them because he is not on the public housing list of approved occupants for the housing list of approved occupants for the house. Further, he is sharing a room with house. Further, he is sharing a room with two of Teresa’s youngest sons. Teresa two of Teresa’s youngest sons. Teresa absolutely refused to tell him to leave. The absolutely refused to tell him to leave. The police officer will investigate further with police officer will investigate further with the child protective officer, but not that the child protective officer, but not that night. night.


Teresa and the son return to the home, Teresa and the son return to the home, and the police escort them to ensure that and the police escort them to ensure that the great uncle leaves the premises. As the great uncle leaves the premises. As you leave, you remember that you studied you leave, you remember that you studied about cultural differences in some of your about cultural differences in some of your college courses. Perhaps you can convince college courses. Perhaps you can convince Teresa of the danger in this situation if you Teresa of the danger in this situation if you understand her culture better. You check understand her culture better. You check her file. Teresa was born in Mexico and her file. Teresa was born in Mexico and identifies herself as Mexican.identifies herself as Mexican.

Case Study Questions:Case Study Questions: Given the situation, why might Teresa insist that her Given the situation, why might Teresa insist that her

uncle continue to live with them despite the abuse uncle continue to live with them despite the abuse allegations? allegations?

Provide some strategies that can be used to help Provide some strategies that can be used to help Teresa understand that while you understand her Teresa understand that while you understand her culture, in this case, it would be better for the great culture, in this case, it would be better for the great uncle to live elsewhere. Remember to be sensitive to uncle to live elsewhere. Remember to be sensitive to her perspective of the strength of the family unit. her perspective of the strength of the family unit.

What additional referrals might Teresa and her What additional referrals might Teresa and her children need after this incident? children need after this incident?

Questions?Questions?

Welcome to Unit 5: Understanding Diversity in Practice Robin C. Cooper, LCSW.

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