SOCW 6070 wk 4 responses for discussion 1  Respond to at least two colleagues post separately in the following ways: Address a colleague’s post that differs from yours with regard to at least one cultural lens and expand upon the colleague’s interpretation of Paula’s needs. Explain whether you might use your colleague’s strategy for addressing multiple perspectives when treating clients, and explain why. Support your post with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references. Peer 1 post Jasmine Dixon  RE: Discussion 1 - Week 4 Case of Paula: Cultural Lens  Reviewing Paula’s culture and her strengths/weaknesses as the social worker I would take those factors into consideration to address Paula’s needs, well as to develop a plan with the team on how to approach Paula. Through the Future and Performance orientation I would interpret Paula needs as her positive plan for her future with a newborn. This will include making a decision to continue her pregnancy first. If so she would need to begin making plans to have items in place for the baby. In addition to the Future Orientation, Performance Paula’s needs will be interpreted by her changing her lifestyle and adhering to her treatment set by the team. Once these performances are carried out she can expect rewards for a better quality of life, well as the ability to take back over her life, health,and relationships. Stakeholders Perspectives and/or Human Services Professionals  While stakeholders' perspectives are important to take into consideration I would also be sure to employ humane-oriented leadership emphasizes being supportive, considerate, compassionate, and generous. This type of leadership includes modesty and sensitivity to other people. This particular leadership style will aid in making sure the treatment of the clients are still in their best interest and does not impose harm or deny the client their basic rights. Every individual has their own culture and beliefs, which is fine, however, as Paula’s social worker it’s my responsibility to ensure those factors do not impose negatively on policies that will affect her and her treatment.  Fong & Gibbs (1995) found that the changes needed to create a culturally responsive organization can threaten the core culture of an agency, foster resistance, and compromise the effectiveness of an ethnically diverse workforce that must conform to preexisting services, rules, and procedures that may not be appropriate for serving diverse communities.  Fong & Gibbs (1995, p. 16–18) offer the following recommendations to avoid these negative outcomes at the organizational level: 1) The organization should recognize the impetus for the desire to hire multicultural staff and to clarify desired outcomes (e.g., improvement of service delivery or contract accountability issues); 2) the organization should become proficient in receiving and integrating divergent forms of input from all parts of th.

1. SOCW 6070 wk 4 responses for discussion 1
Respond to at least two colleagues post separately in the
following ways:
Address a colleague’s post that differs from yours with regard
to at least one cultural lens and expand upon the colleague’s
interpretation of Paula’s needs.
Explain whether you might use your colleague’s strategy for
addressing multiple perspectives when treating clients, and
explain why.
Support your post with specific references to the resources. Be
sure to provide full APA citations for your references.
Peer 1 post
Jasmine Dixon
RE: Discussion 1 - Week 4
Case of Paula:
Cultural Lens
Reviewing Paula’s culture and her strengths/weaknesses as the
social worker I would take those factors into consideration to
address Paula’s needs, well as to develop a plan with the team
on how to approach Paula. Through the Future and Performance
orientation I would interpret Paula needs as her positive plan
for her future with a newborn. This will include making a
decision to continue her pregnancy first. If so she would need to

2. begin making plans to have items in place for the baby. In
addition to the Future Orientation, Performance Paula’s needs
will be interpreted by her changing her lifestyle and adhering to
her treatment set by the team. Once these performances are
carried out she can expect rewards for a better quality of life,
well as the ability to take back over her life, health,and
relationships.
Stakeholders Perspectives and/or Human Services Professionals
While stakeholders' perspectives are important to take into
consideration I would also be sure to employ humane-oriented
leadership emphasizes being supportive, considerate,
compassionate, and generous. This type of leadership includes
modesty and sensitivity to other people. This particular
leadership style will aid in making sure the treatment of the
clients are still in their best interest and does not impose harm
or deny the client their basic rights. Every individual has their
own culture and beliefs, which is fine, however, as Paula’s
social worker it’s my responsibility to ensure those factors do
not impose negatively on policies that will affect her and her
treatment.
Fong & Gibbs (1995) found that the changes needed to create a
culturally responsive organization can threaten the core culture
of an agency, foster resistance, and compromise the
effectiveness of an ethnically diverse workforce that must
conform to preexisting services, rules, and procedures that may
not be appropriate for serving diverse communities.
Fong & Gibbs (1995, p. 16–18) offer the following
recommendations to avoid these negative outcomes at the
organizational level: 1) The organization should recognize the
impetus for the desire to hire multicultural staff and to clarify
desired outcomes (e.g., improvement of service delivery or
contract accountability issues); 2) the organization should

3. become proficient in receiving and integrating divergent forms
of input from all parts of the community and within the
organization itself as it hires and incorporates culturally diverse
staff; 3) the agency should strive as a whole to improve
diversity; 4) the organization should consider optimal ways to
cluster culturally diverse staff to create a critical mass so that
they are no longer singled out as tokens in various units; and 5)
agency administrators and staff must share a clear
understanding about the required level of cultural skills and
knowledge necessary to deliver effective services to the target
population, to develop community ties, and to recognize the
need for bilingual language skills.
References
Chun-Chung Chow, J. & Austin, M.J (2008). The Culturally
Responsive Social Service Agency: The Application of an
Evolving Definition to a Case Study, Administration in Social
Work, 32(4), 39-64.
Fong, L., & Gibbs, J. (1995). Facilitating services to
multicultural communities in a dominant culture setting: An
organizational perspective. Administration in Social Work,
19(2), 1–24.
Northouse, P.G (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice ( 6th
e.d.) Los Angeles: Sage Publications
Peer 2
Emily Heare
RE: Discussion 1 - Week 4
Two Cultural Lenses Selected

4. After reviewing the Cortez case study, the cultural lenses one
selected to interpret Paula's needs are mental health and
socioeconomic lenses.
As stated in the case study, Paula has a bipolar diagnosis and is
dealing with paranoia while admitting to not taking her
medications regularly (Laureate Education, 2014a). She has
been put on a 72-hour psychiatric hold due to her
decompensating during a social worker visit. The social worker
stated she feared for Paula's safety and the unborn child Paula is
pregnant with (Laureate Education, 2014a). With the mental
health lens, one would interpret Paula's needs as to ensure
safety as number one for Paula. Once it is determined Paula's
immediate safety is no longer an immediate threat, the next step
is to work with Paula's mental health needs to stabilize her
symptoms enough to be a functioning adult outside of a
psychiatric unit.
Looking at the Cortez case through a socioeconomic lens, one
would interpret Paula's needs as her lack of financial supports.
Depending on what Paula's decision regarding her pregnancy
will depend on if Paula needs to quickly become enrolled in the
WIC program for financial assistance with food while pregnant
and assistance for the child after birth. Paula will also need help
looking into other socioeconomic areas such as assistance for
obtaining resources for the baby, including bedding, clothing,
diapers, etc. The case study stated that Paula's right hand is
semi-paralyzed, and she has a limp when she walks (Laureate
Education, 2014a). It was also noted that Paula suffers from
foot ulcers that result in Paula not putting pressure on her feet.
Based on this information, Paula may qualify for government
assistance such as disability. The aid is another avenue that
Paula should be looking into to aid in her financial stability.
Incorporating Multiple Perspectives While Treating Clients

5. When working with stakeholders and/or human services
professionals, I would incorporate multiple perspectives. Of
those perspectives, I would focus mainly on gender
egalitarianism, future orientation, performance orientation, and
humane orientation. Gender egalitarianism promotes gender
equality, which is very important when treating clients from all
cultural backgrounds (Northouse, 2013). Future Orientation
perspectives focus on planning for the future (Northouse, 2013).
Being future-orientated in perspective allows professionals to
treat clients in a solution-focused and prevention perspective.
Performance orientation perspectives reward individuals for
their improved performance (Northouse, 2013). This perspective
is essential when working with clients as individuals tend to
continue praised behaviors instead of ignored behaviors.
Therefore, if a client is making progress, then using a
performance orientation perspective can motivate the client.
Finally, the humane orientation perspective "emphasizes
sensitivity to others, social support, and community values"
(Northouse, 2013). Such a view can lead to clients' treatment
through being "fair, altruistic, generous, caring, and kind to
others" (Northouse, 2013). Clients need professionals to treat
them with generosity and kindness to have a better working
therapeutic relationship for increased positive treatment
outcomes.
References
Laureate Education (Producer). (2014a).
Cortez case study
[Multimedia]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
Northouse, P.G. (2013).
Leadership: Theory and practice
(6th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications