Provides basic information on incorporating cultural sensitivity in interventions with immigrant families and children. Social workers, child welfare professionals, and related professionals get: (1) a fact sheet on cultural perspectives on child rearing, which emphasizes the importance of taking into account a family’s background and culture in order to avoid misinterpreting behaviors and making inappropriate interventions; (2) best practice tips for promoting a climate of cultural sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect and also for ensuring the preservation of the child’s unique cultural identity; (3) definitions of such terms as culturally competent agencies and systems, ethnocultural diversity, and organizational reflectiveness; (4) a list of model programs and Web-based resources, including the Alliance for Children and Families, the Child Welfare League of America, and the National Resource Center on Child Maltreatment; (5) a summary of policies and procedures regarding cultural sensitivity, including organizational structure and procedures as well as agency training curricula; and (6) a list of suggested reading on topics related to cultural competency and sensitivity. Using these resources, social workers and child welfare professionals can work with immigrant families to understand cultural differences and find ways to bridge them.
