ABSTRACT
Multicultural considerations are paramount to effective child maltreatment risk assessment and fair treatment of diverse families. This chapter distinguishes between race, ethnicity, and culture. Bias in evaluation and racial and ethnic disproportionality in the child welfare system points to the need for cultural competence in child protection work. This chapter discusses cultural bias, systemic racism, and implicit bias, and presents a multicultural version of the ecological model. Stressors faced by multicultural families are explored in terms of intersectionality theory. Stressors can include acculturation, immigration, discrimination, trauma, and oppression. LGBTQ concerns are discussed, particularly the intersection of LGBTQ people’s risk for maltreatment and cultural views of LGBTQ people. Considerations for assessment, like client rapport, use of translators, and understanding symptom expression are presented along with suggestions for increasing cultural competence.
