Elaine P. Congress

The Use of Culturagrams to Assess and Empower Culturally Diverse Families

The culturagram was developed in response to the cultural diversity of families and the need for ethnic-sensitive practice. This family-assessment tool assesses (1) reasons for immigration; (2) length of time in community; (3) legal status; (4) age at time of immigration; (5) language spoken at home and in the community; (6) health beliefs; (7) celebrated holidays and special events; (8) impact of crisis events; (9) values regarding family, education, and work; and (10) contact with cultural institutions. With the culturagram, social workers are able to assess the impact of culture on the family, individualize ethnically similar families, become more empathic with regard to cultural differences, and empower culturally diverse clients and their families.

Dual Relationships in Social Work Education: Report on a National Survey.

Dual relationships between social work educators and their current or former students is largely unstudied. This article reports on a survey of deans and senior social work educators’ ethical beliefs on dual relationships. Educators were asked how they regarded different types of dual relationships and differences between dual relationships with current and former students. They were also asked about ethics education in their schools. Beliefs about dual relationships varied, especially regarding current students and former ones. While ethics education in schools of social work is extensive, policies on dual relationships are scarce. Further research is needed on the ethics of dual relationships in social work education.

Dual Relationships in Academia: Dilemmas for Social Work Educators.

In addition to acting as teachers, social work educators can play many other roles in relation to their students—including sexual partner, friend, therapist, or employer. Combining the role of instructor with one of these other roles may lead to ethical violations and dilemmas. This article urges educators to consider their power differential and the potential for harm to their students before entering a dual relationship. It reviews the NASW Code of Ethics and relevant literature about dual relationships in practice and in academia; discusses examples of dual relationships in social work education; and formulates questions for educators to use in assessing ethical practice.

Cultural and Ethical Issues in Working with Culturally Diverse Patients and Their Families: The Use of the Culturagram to Promote Cultural Competent Practice in Health Care Settings

Abstract In all aspects of health and mental health care-the emergency room, the outpatient clinic, inpatient facilities, rehab centers, nursing homes, and hospicessocial workers interact with patients from many different cultures. This paper will introduce an assessment tool for health care professionals to advance understanding of culturally diverse patients and their families.

Indigenous people in a landscape of risk: Teaching social work students about socially just social work responses

The need for social justice in social work practice is particularly apparent in work with indigenous populations. In spite of the social work professions commitment to social justice, social workers have often done significant harm in their work with indigenous peoples. Social work educators are ideally positioned to close this gap between social work values and practice by teaching how principles of social justice can be applied with indigenous peoples. This article provides social work educators with background knowledge and specific tools for teaching about indigenous populations from a social justice perspective.