Reconceptualizing Culture in Social Work Practice and Education: A Dialectic and Uniqueness Awareness Approach

Authors

Luis R. Alvarez-Hernandez, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Y. Joon Choi

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2017

Abstract

This article examines the definitions and implementations of the concepts of culture and cultural competence in social work education and practice. We take a look at the history and evolution of diversity and cultural competence in the social work curriculum. This article also identifies four theories and models of cultural competence taught in social work education, and the strengths and limitations of each theory and model are discussed. A new approach to cultural competence, the Dialectic and Uniqueness Awareness Approach, considers the triadic relationship between the social worker, the client, and the interaction of both with a multiplicity of systems and experiences. Finally, the five main principles of this approach are discussed using a case example.

Comments

© 2017 Council on Social Work Education

https://www.tandfonline.com/share/AQ9KN9UFIJHZJIINANXQ?target=10.1080/10437797.2016.1272511

Recommended Citation

Luis R. Alvarez-Hernandez & Y. Joon Choi (2017) Reconceptualizing Culture in Social Work Practice and Education: A Dialectic and Uniqueness Awareness Approach, Journal of Social Work Education, 53:3, 384-398, DOI: 10.1080/10437797.2016.1272511

DOI

10.1080/10437797.2016.1272511