According to the National Association of Social Workers' Standards for Cultural Competence, how should a social worker approach working with students from a culture different from their own?

• A. He should assume that he can never fully understand a culture to which he does not belong, so he should not bother to explore his new students culture
• B. He should attempt to find as many similarities as possible
• C. He should acknowledge that his culture background differs from that of his students and attempt to learn as much as he can about African American culture while focusing on its strengths
• D. He should not acknowledge that his cultural background differs from the students and should not alter his social work practice in any way

Answer: (C)

Working effectively with students from cultures different from their own relies on cultural humility—recognizing your own background as not identical to the student’s and approaching with curiosity and openness. The NASW Standards for Cultural Competence emphasize being self‑aware about biases, actively learning about the student’s cultural context, and using that understanding to support the student’s growth while highlighting cultural strengths. This approach respects differences, seeks relevant knowledge about the student’s culture, and centers on the positive attributes and resilience within that culture to empower the student.

Options that ignore differences, assume sameness, or claim there’s nothing to learn undermine trust and effectiveness. Similarly, pursuing only superficial similarities or avoiding any adaptation in practice fails to meet culturally competent standards. The best approach is to acknowledge the cultural differences, learn about the student’s culture, and focus on its strengths to guide supportive, respectful practice.