|
In order to download the Culturally Competent Professional Practice (C2P2) Manual (Bridges To Engagement), click on the
link below:
click here to download file
The Program:
C2P2a project used with OAACS, the Office of African American Children's Services (in Washington State Children's Administration),
was designed to make visible the key components of the culturally competent professional practice, to modify the practice,
and coach those involved to ensure consistent implementation of the practice. C2P2 provides educational opportunities, supports,
and celebrations focused on our four components.
Key Components:
· Build positive relationships with children, families and communities by understanding
and using cultural norms;
· Use strength-based processes in conducting assessments;
· Recognize family, kin, and community as resources; and
·
Provide referrals to culturally competent community-based service
providers
Lessons Learned …
• The OAACS practice model may be "just good social work practice” as some social workers have suggested,
but the reality of work within child protective services — with the seemingly relentless environment of change and the
necessary focus on adhering to regulations and administrative documentation— makes it exceedingly difficult for workers
to give their full attention to cultural competence within their practice.
• By requiring a culturally competent practice, and for OAACS the culture is specifically African American,
social workers are supported systemically in bringing the sensitivity, knowledge, and conscious attention necessary to effectively
engage families and create a partnership conducive to shared decision making. By having developed the model, and with C2P2's
effort to codify and support it, it appears that OAACS is making it more possible for staff to carry out their work in a culturally
competent manner than likely would be true in an environment that is not focused on how cultural variables impact service
delivery and outcomes for families and children.
• As strong a partnership as the C2P2 Project Team had with OAACS, there can never be too much collaboration.
Without a high level of cooperation and teamwork, C2P2 could never have succeeded in resolving the inevitable problems
that arose. C2P2 experienced two key indicators of a successful collaboration. The first was the respect of
the initiative leaders and second, an environment of trust. Walking the talk, we learned, while not an easy task is
an essential one, as partnership is at the heart of the work.
"Working with community partners, we have to walk our talk about engaging our partners.
We have to demonstrate the same behaviors that we are expecting from others as they work with families and children.
We need to trust the wisdom of the people that are doing the work. We need to support the leaders of the initiative,
not be the leaders of the initiative. We need to believe in and support the champions of the work".
Indra Trujillo, Program Manager, Frontline Connections QIC.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
1.
Contact UJIMA: C2P2 Program at C2P2@ococujima.org.
2.
To Contact the C2P2 Tools Team:
UJIMA Community Services 6419 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way South
Seattle, WA 98118-3149
206.760.3456
|
