Assignment task:
In Unit 6 of the DCFS Fundamentals, Culturally Informed Practice, you learned about disproportionality and disparity.
Disproportionality: Refers to the differences in the percentage of children of a certain racial and ethnic groups compared to the percentage of the children in the same group in the child welfare system. African American children are disproportionately represented in the Illinois child welfare system. (See Illinois Department of Children & Family Services Demographic Information of Children In Foster/Relative/Institution/Group Home Care Data, January 1, 2021.) General Demographics
Disparity: Refers to the unequal treatment when comparing a racial or ethnic minority to a non-minority. Disparities, such as treatment services, resources, and decision points, can be examined in different ways.
Share an experience when you learned about, observed, or experienced disproportionality or disparity in systems, communities, schools and families. Thinking of the three levels of cultural competence:
Attitude: Openness for and appreciation of cultural diversity.
Knowledge: Learning about different worldviews, values, norms and ways of life is critical in understanding how cultural elements influence your own and others' behavior and communication.
Skills: Ability to handle situations, to acquire and process knowledge about one's own as well as others' way of life.
Reflection: Ability to change perspective, being adaptable and expanding one's own frame of reference.
Share your ideas of what you as a social worker can do to impact change within the systems you will be working in.