Early Childhood Mental Health Treatment: Training Reference Guide

Strategies
Cultural Diversity
Community Context:
how is the community system of services and networks viewed
what forms of interactions with the community are preferred
what is the accessibility to and availability of informal and formal supports and resources
what are the barriers to supports and resources
Strategies to support culturally sensitive relationship building with families:
1. Be open to learning about a family’s cultural beliefs and practices
2. Recognize one’s own values, beliefs and behaviours as culture-based
3. Establish sensitive, responsive rapport with families by:
- being sensitive to challenges and concerns facing new families in Canada
- finding a commonality with the family as a starting point
- appreciating the dramatic change in economic and social status of new Canadians
- being understanding of feelings of grief, loss and homesickness
- being alert to indicators of trauma
4. Problem solve and negotiate around cultural/racial differences
5. When there is no progress in a case consider that there may be an issue in cultural
differences not having been addressed as a possible issue and review.
Resources
Lynch, E. & Hanson, M., eds. (1998). Developing Cross-Cultural Competence: A Guide for
Working with Children and Their Families. Baltimore: Paul Brooks Publishing Co.
Lieberman, A.F. (1989). What is culturally sensitive intervention Early Child Development
and Care, 50, 197-204.
Harkness, S. & Super, C.M. (Eds.) (1996). Parent’s Cultural Beliefs Systems: Their origins,
expression and consequences. New York: Guildford Press.
5