The impact of a cultural competency course on the racial identity of msws

Abstract

Recently, social work education has devoted increasing attention to the need for social work students to develop the awareness, knowledge and skills required to become more culturally competent practitioners, a process that involves advancing racial identity development. Yet, little research has been done that seriously addresses the quality and efficacy of multicultural course methods. As a result, we have limited knowledge regarding the impact social work multicultural course training truly has upon the development of racial identity development and cultural competency. This study examined the impact of a newly developed MSW multicultural course on the racial identity development of White students and students of color. It explored how MSW students perceived their development of racial identity and cultural competency, post‐training. The students also identified specific instructional methods that fostered their development of racial identity and cultural competency. The quantitative results indicated that the course training positively affected the racial identity development of students to some degree. White participants seemed to benefit most. Qualitative data indicated that in contrast to the control group, the majority of participants in the intervention group experienced change in their attitudes toward individuals who are racialy/ethnically different. Students perceived that their racial identity attitudes changed in the direction of increased racial/cultural self‐awareness and racial awareness of others. Again, in comparison with the control group, the intervention group experienced a larger increase in cultural awareness, sensitivity, knowledge, and responsiveness. The majority of the intervention group identified the cultural competency course methods as sources of their advancement in racial identity and cultural competency development.