M1 Discussion – Why Cultural Competence is Important
A theme that reverberates throughout the few initial chapters is the importance of self-awareness. My hope is that you begin to understand the material in deeper and more personal ways. Watch the following videos and answer the questions below:
Cultural Diversity: The Sum of Our Parts by Hilda Mwangi (2017 video, 15 minutes in length, captioned)
Discussion Questions (2-3 paragraphs):
Consider how diversity enriches your life and expands your world view and experiences.
What makes you up and how do you want to share who you are with the class this semester and throughout your career in human services? Please do not divulge anything about yourself that will leave you feeling vulnerable. Instead, please follow the same format as Hilda did at the end of her Ted talk.
Discuss the ways this standard might be helpful in a real-world setting (create a vignette).
Reflecting on your own cultural identity and influences, discuss what benefits are gained when providers are culturally competent. Which standard do you think you still need to further develop?
Remember, if you have a current event that is relevant to an issue on diversity that you want to share with the class, post it in the What’s Happening in the News discussion area which is an ungraded, casual space for us to keep current and chat about what is literally happening today!
Discussion Participation Tips
Your initial post should be a reflective response that answers all questions, is adequately detailed, and cites outside sources when necessary to support your post. Typically, a post should be at least 250 words to allows you to answer and ask follow up questions, provide supplemental information, and to share views and experiences that draw us into an in-depth and meaningful conversation. Your first response should be posted by midweek and then you should return to respond to at least two other students during the remaining week(s) of the module. Be sure to use APA format to cite sources when putting forth the ideas, opinions, and facts of others.
FIRST DISCUSSION POST
Diversity in Human Services is a crucial aspect of life, as it brings a variety of perspectives and experiences to the table. We can learn more about the world and its cultures by engaging with people from different backgrounds. This semester, I want to share my story with the class and demonstrate how my experiences have shaped who I am today. I would like to share my strengths, weakness, and experiences. weather good or bad and just overall be an open book with others. As Hilda stated in her Ted talk, we must be able to share. I feel that being open about our lives can truly benefit others.
I was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. I was surrounded by a diverse community of people from all different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities. This diversity has shaped my life positively and helped me appreciate the beauty of different cultures and perspectives. Once I got married, my husband joined the army where have been apart since 2010. As a military family, we move every 3- 4 years. The frequent moves can put a strain on family relationships, disrupt children’s education, and cause financial hardship. Military families must learn to adjust quickly and adapt to their new environment in order for them to maintain a sense of stability and normalcy. That said, I love sharing my stories and experiences with new wives and families coming into the army. As an SFRG leader, I am able to give advice, provide information about basic benefits the army has and just be a lending hand when help is needed. The beauty of the military community is that Military families come from all around the world and bring with them a unique mix of cultures and experiences.
Cultural competence also helps to create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected. When providers are culturally competent, they are better able to provide services that meet the needs of their clients. Being culturally competent creates an environment or space where people from diverse backgrounds will feel at ease and welcome. It sets a higher standard for healthcare.
SECOND DISCUSSION POST
The United States and the world are made up of various cultures, nationalities, perspectives, and points of view. When all these dissimilar beliefs are combined collectively, we create a melting pot of experiences and new adventures. Cultural competency enriches your life and expands your worldview and perspective of others. Learning more about other cultures and being aware of current events is often key in learning about various cultural groups’ points of view ( A component of culture is diversity. Diversity is an important part of life experiences as it drives creativity, in addition to how we view the world and each other.
Coming from an African American background I have had experiences where being a black woman in America proves complex due to intersectionality. However, learning about different cultural backgrounds and ethnicities has benefited me in my career by eliminating stereotypes of differing backgrounds and disabilities. If everyone was the same, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn from others and expand our minds creatively.
Benefits are gained when we can support individuals by cultivating cross-cultural awareness and communication. I have overcome barriers in my professional career by adjusting my mindset and being more open to the adversity of those having a different thought process. When you have a greater understanding of other cultures you will be able to interact with people from a wide range of backgrounds and you will increase your abilities to help others receive the highest level of support ( Garcia, 1998). When I think of who I am as a person in this culturally diverse world, I think of myself as a black woman, a friend, a sibling, empathic, and compassionate person.
References:
Tervalon, M. & Murray-Garcia.J. (1998) Cultural humility versus cultural competence: A critical distinction in defining physician training outcomes in multicultural education. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 9, 117-125
NOTE FROM THE CLIENT
I sent the discussion for you to see what they are asking for. You don’t need to work on the discussion. Please reply to the 2 discussion Posts only below the Discussion essay.
Thank you.
