Field Manual for 2013-2014 - University of Maryland School of ...

Prepares process recordings, reviews them with the Field Instructor and uses the process recordings to assess
and learn from his/her interviews with clients or other actors.
Vll. DIVERSITY
The student:
Attitude Objectives
Accepts that the social workers are ethically bound to be non-discriminatory and to serve clients from diverse
backgrounds;
Is aware that achieving understanding of the life experiences of people from diverse backgrounds requires
active learning, accepts that the limitations of his/her own experiences may be an obstacle to understanding
others’ realities;
Willingly learns about specific aspects of diversity of his/her clients and works to develop a dual perspective;
Demonstrates a readiness to develop skill in working with people of diverse backgrounds by identifying
stereotypes, biases or negative attitudes that might interfere with building effective relationships and by
actively seeking corrective information and experiences;
Knowledge Objectives
Using empirical data and experience, is able to generalize about the agency’s clients, their life situations and
problems in living without stereotyping, and recognizes that the generalization may not apply in specific
situations;
Relates the general characteristics of the agency’s clientele to ways in which the agency and its staff need to
adapt their practice to the needs and characteristics of the clientele;
When working with members of oppressed or stigmatized groups, identifies the effects of oppression and
stigmatization on behavior and development and understands the concept of empowerment;
Is aware that, despite diversity, all people have common human needs;
Skill Objectives
Is comfortable with clients whose backgrounds are different from his/her own background;
Identifies if ethnocentrism or other bias is different from his/her work with clients, acknowledges such feelings,
and seeks to control their effects on his/her behavior,
Appropriately discusses issues of difference with his/her client and with other people involved in specific
situations;
Adapts the problem-solving model of practice and generalist skills to the help-seeking practices of diverse
groups.
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