Discussion : Reflecting on Multicultural Competence Multicultural

competence is still evolving within the field of human and social services as the constructs and paradigms that undergird it continue to evolve through practice and research.

What started as a desire to recognize differences has moved toward the goal of understanding the complex multiple identities, or intersectionality, that an individual may exhibit (Garran & Werkmeister Rozas, 2013).

The goal of this course has been to increase your awareness of the need for culturally sensitive, ethical practice within the field, and also to present strategies and sources through which you might increase your knowledge and skills in this area. As a result of its complexity, however, multicultural competence is necessarily a career-long journey.

For this Discussion, you examine the progress you have made toward multicultural competence and areas for future professional development in this area. You also consider the immense potential for multicultural competency in human and social services to impact social change initiatives.

Prepare:

•Reflect back on the assignments you have completed during this course.

Think about what you have learned and what you need to continue to work on to be successful as a human and social services profession.

•Review the article "Cultural Competence Revisited" in this week's Learning Resources.

Post an explanation of the areas you feel you need to develop in order to become more multiculturally competent and why. Finally, include an explanation of how multicultural competency relates to and impacts social change.

Garran, A. M., & Werkmeister Rozas, L. (2013). Cultural competence revisited. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 22(2), 97-111. Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.