ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the common themes and their implications for assessment and practice; directions for policy, program, and research development; and educational objectives. Culturally competent practice implies much more than obtaining basic knowledge about a specific population group. When an agency administrator, hospital director, or nursing supervisor communicates to the rest of the staff a sense of urgency and recognition of the importance of developing a culturally competent system of service provision, it is likely that one will evolve. Structural, institutional, and individual biases and stereotypes all serve to create barriers to effective, culturally competent practice. It is the responsibility of the culturally competent professional to look for unique strengths in the client that can serve as resources for problem solving; this is an inherent part of professional social work practice.
