with the groups they have discussed. These are difficult and sensitive topics. As a result, remember to interact professionally and avoid judgment. Asking questions for

with the groups they have discussed. These are difficult and sensitive topics. As a result, remember to interact professionally and avoid judgment. Asking questions for clarification is a good way to approach the feedback you provide. In thinking about the type of social work professional, I desire to be in the future, being culturally competent to my colleagues and clients would be a standard. After completing the Multicultural Competence Self-Assessment, the key characteristics of a culturally sensitive social worker were identified as Cultural Knowledge, Awareness of Cultural Barriers, Sensitivity & Responsiveness to Consumers, and Socio-cultural Diversities. Cultural knowledge is a characteristic I can self-identity that needs improvement for me. To align with being culturally competent a social worker will have to continually gain knowledge about various cultures, but it does not just stop at gaining knowledge. Social workers should obtain education about and demonstrate understanding of 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 (National Association of Social Workers, 2018). A client’s religion and the value their religion has on their life might make it difficult for a social worker to someone from a particular group. The article Ethics, cultural competence, and the changing face of America explained how the patient-physician relationship was strained due to cultural differences. The physician believed the family was allowing their spiritual beliefs about the origin of their child’s diagnosis to get in the way of proper care. But to the family, their Hmong culture affected every aspect of their lives. A similar situation for a social worker could be a social worker having sessions with a student because the student believes they will die for being gay. The student’s parents put this in the student’s mind because they are very religious. The school wants to have a session with the student and the family, but the social worker is having personal feelings because they had a very close friend commit suicide due to backlash from his family for his sexual preference. Social workers confronted with these circumstances could prepare themselves to put the student’s best interest at hand. To get a full understanding of the household having what could seem to be a difficult conversation is a must. The social worker must prepare to remain professional and may even need to educate themselves on the values the family’s religion has in their life. Capella University (n.d.). Multicultural Competence Self-Assessment. Retrieved from https://media.capella.edu/CourseMedia/MSW5012/multiculturalCompetenceSelfAssessment/leadershipSelfAssessment.asp Laws, T., & Chilton, J. A. (2013). Ethics, cultural competence, and the changing face of America. Pastoral Psychology, 62(2), 175-188. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11089-012-0428-1 National Association of Social Workers. (2018). Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Retrieved from https:// www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of -Ethics-English