Chapter 2: Using Your Helping Skills with Diverse Populations

1. Chapter 2: Using Your Helping Skills with Diverse Populations

2. Learning Objectives • Describe diversity and its developing role in the U.S. workforce • Describe new attitudes toward and approaches to managing diversity in the workplace • Describe the groups that make up the diverse American workforce • Acknowledge and express your own attitudes toward the different populations described in this chapter

3. Learning Objectives • Identify organizational and individual barriers that may affect career planning and success for individuals from diverse backgrounds • Demonstrate CDF skills and attitudes needed to assist diverse groups with career development • Describe laws that relate to diverse populations

4. Diversity A complex concept that includes: • Race • Gender • Ethnicity • Age • National Origin • Religion • Sexual Orientation • Disability • Beliefs • Language • Lifestyle • Values • Socioeconomic • status

5. Trends in the Workforce The American workforce is being impacted by three major trends: • the aging of the baby boomers combined with a tendency for individuals to work longer • increased participation of women • a “changing complexion” made up of individuals from more diverse groups

6. African Americans Asian Americans Hispanic Americans American Indians Women Gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered individuals Persons with disabilities Older adults Dislocated or downsized workers At-risk youth Ex-offenders Persons of various religious beliefs Diverse Populations

7. Organizational Barriers • Negative attitudes toward people from diverse groups • Discrimination and prejudice • Stereotyping • Racism • Bias

8. Personal Barriers • Poor career planning • Inadequate skill preparation • Lack of political savvy • Lack of proper education • Low self-esteem and poor self-image

9. Needed Skills and Attitudes • Customize helping skills to meet individual needs • Recognize and understand differences within groups • Expand and adjust traditional career theories • Recognize differences in values

10. Potential Differences • View of human nature as good or bad • View of individual vs. group identity • Perception of time (value of planning for the future) • Value on internal growth vs. external action • View of personal responsibility vs. external responsibility

11. Transcultural Facilitation • An effort to bridge gaps between and among culturally diverse social groups • Focuses on developing a caring environment as a means of bridging • Encourages open-mindedness related to differing value systems • Emphasizes willingness to adapt methods and strategies to meet client’s needs

12. Helpful Guidelines • Examine your own attitudes • Focus on respect for each individual • Avoid stereotypes • Consider each person’s needs • When in doubt, ask • Communicate with sensitivity • Adapt your approach as needed • Be attuned to clients’ legal rights

13. Major Legislation • Civil Rights Act of 1991 - provides the most comprehensive base for elimination of discrimination • Americans with Disabilities Act - provides protection for disabled who want to be employed • Family and Medical Leave Act - enables employees to balance responsibilities of work and family