Social Worker Self-Awareness Paper

Diverse population which create challenges

The diverse population, which may create challenges for me as a social worker, is the white supremacy population. Merriam dictionary states the definition of white supremacy is a person who believes that the white race is inherently superior to other races and that white people should have control over people of other races. This behavior is intimidating and challenging to me. Working with this population is one of “my”personal biases. I will need to deal with this bias to respectfully and successfully carry out the social work mission. The white supremacy population feel like you cannot help them and they are wasting their time. In my opinion, it is hard to reach this population if there is a wall up. I feel like you will have a better chance reaching this population, if it is mandatory or court ordered. It has been my experience in the past that some of this population feels inherently superior because of the listed factors and stereotypes:

• White privilege
• Prejudices against the minority population
• Racism
• Financial security or abundance
• Elite
• Best healthcare
• Lucrative and well paid employment.

According to study.com, the concept of white privilege refers to the ways in which white people benefit from the fact that they are not a racial minority. They also state it is important to remember that, according to its proponents, white privilege is not something that a person actively cultivates; rather, it is the product of a culture that is built on what is known as white supremacist ideology. Some statistic examples of white privilege are:

• The average net worth of black households is $6,314, compared to $110,500 for the average white household.
• While a college-educated white American has an average net worth of $75,000, a college-educated black American has an average net worth of less than $17,500.

If I am considered a minority and a woman who does not make enough money, according to the white supremacist, I may not be good enough to provide social work service.

Advancing cultural competency

In the chapter white racial identity development from multicultural social work practice 2 textbook, I was introduced to different models of white racial identity development. To advance cultural competency, I would refer to these models as a tool. Learning the client and client’s history during the assessment phase is another way of advancing cultural competency. In addition, another way to identify cultural competency is researching client’s ethnic cultural strengths.

NASW Code of Ethics

Two standards in the NASW Code of Ethics are:

• Social workers should understand culture and its function in human behavior and society, recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures.
• Social workers should have a knowledge base of their clients' cultures and be able to demonstrate competence in the provision of services that are sensitive to clients' cultures and to differences among people and cultural groups.

These standards are important in relation to diverse populations because they give the foundation of cultural competence. Not only should the social worker research the client and client’s history but also the client’s culture. After seeking the knowledge base of their clients’ cultures, it should create a better understanding and respect for the client. Two social workers’ ethical responsibilities to clients are:

• Conflicts of Interest (a) Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment.
• Cultural Awareness and Social Diversity (b) Social workers should obtain education about and seek to understand the nature of social diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical ability.

These responsibilities are important because if the social worker is not culturally competent in the areas listed above or self-aware of personally biases, the social worker will not be able to build a working relationship with the client. The social worker may become judgmental, angry, and unpathetic toward the client even to the point of sabotage, which will create conflict of interest. I will uphold these responsibilities by becoming culturally competent by continuing to learn about client’s diversity through research and training. Secondly, by understanding and acknowledging self-awareness of personal biases throughout my social work career.