Gordon E. Limb

Change between Entry and Graduation in MSW Student Views on Social Work's Traditional Mission, Career Motivations, and Practice Preferences: Caucasian, Student of Color, and American Indian Group Comparisons.

The current study builds on a previous study that examined change in student views on social works traditional mission, career motivations, and practice preferences between entry into and graduation from master of social work programs. Results from 6,987 students at entry and 3,451 students at graduation showed that students at graduation expressed stronger adherence to social works traditional mission than they did at entry, but appeal of major social work client groups and practice areas decreased. Students of color maintained their strong initial desire to work with poor client groups between entry and graduation, while such desires decreased for Caucasian students, and American Indians showed the most stability of any group.

Developing spiritual competency with native Americans: Promoting wellness through balance and harmony

Native Americans tend to hold culturally unique beliefs about the origin of problems and the ways in which those problems can be ameliorated. For most Native American tribal communities, spirituality is interconnected with health and well-being. Accordingly developing some degree of spiritual competency is essential for work with Native American clients. Consequently this paper discusses the relationship between spirituality and health, highlighting the roles that balance and harmony play in fostering health and well-being in many tribal cultures. Also discussed are common spiritual beliefs and practices, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, areas of potential value conflict, and practice suggestions to enhance spiritual competency when working with Native Americans.

Developing Spiritual Lifemaps as a Culture-Centered Pictorial Instrument for Spiritual Assessments with Native American Clients

This study represents an initial step at giving social work practitioners an important assessment tool as they seek to provide culturally competent services to Native American clients. For the current study, a spiritual lifemap assessment tool was modified by the authors for a Native American cultural context. To determine the relevancy and consistency of utilizing the modified assessment tool with Native American clients, 50 Native American experts reviewed, rated, and gave feedback on its use. Results showed that spiritual lifemaps were generally consistent with Native American culture and, if used properly, could be very beneficial in working with Native Americans.

Spiritual Histories and Native Americans: A Mixed Method Validation Study

ABSTRACT Although spirituality plays a central role in health and wellness for many Native Americans, surprisingly few spiritual assessment tools have been validated with this population. This mixed-method study modifies an existing spiritual assessment tool—spiritual histories—that may be particularly congruent with Native American culture. Using a sample of recognized experts in Native culture (N = 50), the study identifies: (a) the degree of cultural consistency, strengths, and limitations of the tool, conceptually, and (b) a culturally valid question protocol to operationalize the concept for use with Native clients. The findings are discussed in light of recent accrediting requirements mandating the administration of spiritual assessments in numerous settings and suggestions are provided to administer the assessment in a culturally competent manner.

Utilizing Spiritual Ecograms with Native American Families and Children to Promote Cultural Competence in Family Therapy

This study signifies an initial step at giving family therapists an important assessment tool as they seek to increase cultural competence with Native American families and children. To determine the relevancy and consistency of utilizing a spiritual ecogram assessment tool with Native Americans, 50 Native American participants, with extensive experience with this population, reviewed, rated, and gave feedback on its use. Although some limitations were noted, results showed that spiritual ecograms were moderately consistent with Native American culture and, if used properly, can help family therapists develop culturally appropriate interventions with Native American families and children.

Conducting spiritual assessments with native Americans: Enhancing cultural competency in social work practice courses

Developing competency in diversity and assessment are key educational priorities. With Native American clients a spiritual assessment is typically required because spirituality is often instrumental to health and wellness in Native cultures. In keeping with the movement toward competency-based education, this qualitative study sought to answer the question: How can future social workers conduct spiritual assessments with Native American clients in an effective, culturally competent manner? Analysis yielded a number of practice-oriented insights that can be grouped into 4 categories: the importance of spiritual assessment, preassessment considerations, the process of conducting the assessment, and areas of potential value conflict. The implications of the results are discussed as they intersect social work education and practice courses in particular.

Social Work with Native People: Orienting Child Welfare Workers to the Beliefs, Values, and Practices of Native American Families and Children

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to help child welfare workers better understand the cultural and spiritual elements of effective practice with their Native American clients. This article begins by helping child welfare workers better understand sovereignty and the historical context of Native people in the United States. Discussion then focuses on helping child welfare workers better understand the worldview and family dynamics of Native Americans. Finally, practice and intervention strategies are given to help child welfare workers become more culturally responsive to their Native American clients.

Developing Cultural Competence with Latter-Day Saint Clients: A Strengths-Based Perspective:

Despite social works increasing focus on spiritual competency as one expression of cultural competency, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has received little mention in social work literature. This article utilizes a strengths perspective to help social workers better understand the unique cultural and religious dimensions of effective practice with LDS Church (i.e., Mormon) clients. It contains a summary of the basic beliefs, practices, and structure of the LDS Church. We discuss possible value conflicts, identify challenges that may be unique to members of the LDS Church, and provide suggestions for spiritual assessment and interventions. The article concludes by offering suggestions to enhance the cultural sensitivity of services provided to this growing population.

Expanding Diversity in Social Work Discourse: Exploring the Possibility of a Theistic Perspective

Postmodernism has helped to illustrate that scientific advancement occurs most effectively in an academic milieu comprised of diverse perspectives. Furthermore, insiders—those with personal knowledge of the phenomena under study—are often uniquely positioned to contribute to scientific discourse. The increasing calls for research on spirituality and religion suggest the need for spiritual insiders to participate in the emerging conversation. While acknowledging the need for a variety of spiritual viewpoints, this paper explores the possibility of developing a theistic perspective in social work discourse. The possible contributions that such a perspective might add are discussed and some suggestions are offered for developing a theistic perspective.

Spiritual Assessment and Latter-Day Saints: Establishing the Preliminary Validity of Spiritual Eco-Maps

ABSTRACT Few spiritual assessment approaches have been validated with Latter-Day Saints (LDS), in spite of the importance of religion to this culturally distinct population and its burgeoning growth. Drawing on the concept of social validity, this mixed-method study validates a qualitative spiritual assessment approach—spiritual eco-maps—using a geographically diverse sample of social workers (N = 100), all of whom had at least 5 years of direct practice experience with LDS clients. These individuals were asked to identify: a) the degree of cultural consistency, strengths, and limitations of the spiritual eco-map at a conceptual level; and 2) how the questions designed to operationalize the approach might be improved to be more valid, relevant, and consistent with LDS culture. The results suggest that spiritual eco-maps are consistent with LDS culture as long as they are operationalized appropriately. Toward this end, a culturally valid question protocol is provided along with suggestions for administering the instrument in a culturally competent manner. Spiritual eco-maps may be particularly useful in settings where a quick, visually oriented assessment that focuses on clients’ present relationships is indicated. Future research might build upon the present study by assessing the validity of spiritual eco-maps with both community and client samples.