Spring 2025 SOWK 487w Week 05 - From Families to Groups and Culturally Competent Social Work Practice
Spring 2025 SOWK 487w Week 05 - From Families to Groups and Culturally Competent Social Work Practice
title: Spring 2025 SOWK 487w Week 05 - From Families to Groups and Culturally Competent Social Work Practice date: 2025-02-19 00:22:13 location: Heritage University tags:
- Heritage University
- BASW Program
- SOWK 487w presentation_video: > “” description: >
In week five, we continue to talk about families, but move to try to understand them in the context of what it looks like across cultural identities and for LGBTQ families. Students read Asakura (2016), and we get the opportunity to talk through the social ecological framework of resilience that she describes for working with LGBTQ families. We also work on some practice activities related to genograms/eco-maps. Students will do an activity exploring various cultural identities and a strategy graphically representing cultural needs.
The agenda for this week is as follows:
- Time to work on group presentation together
- Considering Genograms/Eco-Maps
- Social-Ecological Framework of Resilience
- Activity to examine our judgments of others
- Overviews of various cultural groups
- Culturagrams
Agenda
- Time to work on group presentation together
- Considering Genograms/Eco-Maps
- Social-Ecological Framework of Resilience
- Activity to examine our judgments of others
- Overviews of various cultural groups
- Culturagrams
Family Treatment Presentations
[Whole Class Activity] Give students about 30 minutes to work on family treatment presentations.
Making a Family Genogram and Eco-Map
A good tool that we can use with families is a genogram.
What did we do previously about eco-maps (believe touched on it Week 09 of 486)
[Whole Group Activity] What is an eco-map? What does it look like? Why would we do it?
Show example of project I completed Genogram & Eco-map. Discuss the parts of a genogram/eco-map.
[Small Group Activity] Working in small groups, develop a genogram for a family from a movie. After you have developed the genogram, the best that you can from what you know, add some aspects of an eco-map to it. Finally, you will have an opportunity to share your work with your peers.
Social Ecological Framework of Resilience - Micro
I wanted to discuss Asakura’s (2006) framework for working with LGBTQ Youth. It is a social ecological framework of resilience. It has tasks we should be doing at each level of intervention. The first we will talk about is the micro….
Purpose: To promote the capacity of LGBTQ youth to navigate their ways to well-being in the face of adversity
- Assist youth in cultivating skills to assess and navigate safety across contexts.
- Empower youth to use their personal agency to identify needs and goals and make life decisions.
- Support youth in navigating oppression related to their LGBTQ and other marginal social identities.
Social Ecological Framework of Resilience - Mezzo
The second is at the mezzo level.
Purpose: To build or restore capacity among families, schools, and other relevant resources to better support LGBTQ youth
- Engage the families of LGBTQ youth and their teachers, peers, and community groups in building or restoring their capacity to support youth.
- Engage social service agencies to build greater capacity to offer affirmative services to LGBTQ youth.
Social Ecological Framework of Resilience - Macro
Finally there is macro practice.
Purpose: To advocate for relevant social and policy-level changes to prevent system-level oppression that poses risks to LGBTQ youth
- Advocate for funding for relevant resources for LGBTQ youth.
- Advocate for legal rights and protection for LGBTQ people.
- Engage in social action to eradicate oppression against LGBTQ people.
Coming Out Stars Activity
Complete activity called “coming out” Stars from the Trevor Project. See https://www.thetrevorproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/75ea657f061737b608_6pm6ivozp.pdf
Activity Goals
After completing this activity and discussion, youth will be able to:
- Describe aspects of the coming out process.
- Discuss the feelings associated with identifying as LGBTQ.
- Explain how this activity will impact their relationships with their LGBTQ peers.
Activity Instructions
- Let each person pick a blue, purple, red, or orange star.
- Read the following script to them exactly as written.
Step 1: Creating Your Star
- Imagine that this star represents your world, with you at the center and the most important people and things in your life at each point.
- Begin by writing your name in the center of the star.
-
Pick a side of the star to begin with and follow these steps:
- Close Friend:
- Choose a friend who is very close to you—someone you care about deeply.
- Write their name on one side of the star.
- (Allow time to write.)
- Community:
- Think of a community you belong to (e.g., religious, neighborhood, workplace, school, or friend group).
- Write the name of this community on the next side of the star.
- (Allow time to write.)
- Family Member:
- Choose a specific family member you have always turned to for advice and support.
- Write their name on the next side of the star.
- (Allow time to write.)
- Career Aspiration:
- Think about the job you most want in the future.
- Write this career on the next side of the star.
- (Allow time to write.)
- Hopes and Dreams:
- Write down a few of your personal hopes and dreams for the future.
- (Allow time to write.)
- Close Friend:
Step 2: Coming Out Process
- Have everyone stand in a circle (or adjust seating to observe one another).
-
Explain:
“For the purposes of this activity, each of you is now a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender young person about to begin the coming out process. You cannot talk for the rest of the activity.”
- Read the following prompts:
1. Coming Out to Friends
You decide that it will be easiest to tell your friends first; since they have always been there for you in the past and you feel they need to know.
- If you have a blue star, your friends have no problem with it. They have suspected it for some time now and thank you for being honest with them. Luckily, they act no different toward you and accept you for who you are.
- If you have an orange or purple star, your friends are hesitant at first. They are a little irritated that you have waited so long to tell them, but you are confident that soon they will understand that being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender is just a part of who you are. You just need to give them some time. Please fold back this side of your star.
- If you have a red star, you are met with anger and disgust. This friend who has been by your side in the past tells you that being LGBT is wrong and they can’t associate with anyone like that. If you have a red star, please tear off this side and drop it to the ground, this friend is no longer a part of your life. You are now part of the more than 1/3 of LGBT youth who report losing a close friend when they come out (D’Augelli, 2002, p. 439-462).
2. Coming Out to Family
With most of you having such good luck with your friends, you decide that your family probably deserves to know. So, you turn to your closest family member first so that it will be a little easier.
- If you have a blue star, you are embraced by this family member. They are proud that you have decided to come out and let you know that they will always be there to support you.
- If you have an orange or red star, your family member rejects the thought of being related to a person who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Similar to some of your friends, they are disgusted; and some of you are thrown out of your house or even disowned. If you have an orange or red star, please tear off that side of the star and drop it to the ground. You are now one of the estimated 1.6 million homeless American youth; 20 to 40 percent of whom identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (Ray, 2007, p. 1)
- If you have a purple star, the conversation does not go exactly how you planned. Several questions are asked as to how this could have happened, but after some lengthy discussion this person who is close to you seems a little more at ease with it. Fold this side of your star back, as they will be an ally, but only with time.
3. Reaction from the Community
Having told your friends and family, the wheels have started to turn and soon members of your community begin to become aware of your sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
- If you have an orange star, you are met with a mixed response. Some accept you and some don’t know what to think. You remain a part of the community, and with time, will fit in as you once did. If you have an orange star, please fold back this side.
- If you have a purple or blue star, your sexual orientation is accepted by your community. They continue to embrace you like anyone else and together you celebrate the growing diversity in your community.
- If you have a red star, your community reacts with hatred. They tell you that someone like you doesn’t belong in their community. Those who had supported you in your times of need no longer speak to you or acknowledge you. If you have a red star, tear this side off and drop it to the ground.
4. Reaction at Work
You have heard that rumors have started circulating at work regarding your sexual orientation and/or gender identity. In the past, you made it a point to confront these rumors as soon as they began, but now you’re not sure if that will do more harm than good
- If you have a blue star, your co-workers begin to approach you and let you know that they have heard the rumors and they don’t care. They will support you. Your supervisors and boss react the same way—letting you know that you do excellent work and that’s all that matters.
- If you have a red or orange star, you continue to work as though nothing is happening ignoring the rumors that have spread throughout your workplace. One day, you arrive at work to find your office has been packed up. You are called into your boss’s office and she explains that you are being fired. When you ask why, she tells you that lately your work has been less than satisfactory and that she had to make some cutbacks in your area. If you have a red or orange star, please tear off this side and drop it to the ground.
- If you have a purple star, your workplace has become quite interesting. Everyone seems to think that you’re lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender even though you haven’t mentioned it to anyone or confirmed any of the rumors. Some people speak to you less, but the environment has not changed too drastically. If you have a purple star, please fold back this side.
5. Impact on Your Future
Now, your future lies ahead as an LGBTQ young adult. For some of you, your hopes, dreams and wishes for the perfect life are all that remain.
- If you have a red star, you fall into despair. You have been met with rejection after rejection and you find it impossible to accomplish your lifelong goals.
- If you have a purple, blue, or orange star, these hopes and dreams are what keep you going. Most of you have been met with some sort of rejection since beginning your coming out process, but you have managed to reach out for support. With the help of at least one supportive person or entity in your life, you are able to find healthy ways of coping with the difficult changes in your life. You ultimately continue to live a happy and healthy life. Your personal hopes and dreams become a reality.
Discussion Questions
- How did it feel to take part in this activity?
- Who had a red star? How did that feel?
- Who had a blue star? How did that feel?
- What did you learn from this activity?
- What can you do to make our classroom a more supportive place for LGBTQ people?
What Stand Out
Mental Health Resources For Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color
[Small Group Activity] Have students to go https://www.mhanational.org/bipoc. There are the following categories listed on the side bar:
- Black/African American Communities
- Native And Indigenous Communities
- Latinx/Hispanic Communities
- Asian American/Pacific Islander Communities
- Multiracial Communities
- Arab/Middle Eastern/Muslim/South Asian Communities
With the given area, review the overview and some information. What is relevant information for working with families and groups with this population? Prepare some information to share back with the group.
Developing a Culturagram
I’m going to put people on the spot a little bit. If you feel uncofortable sharing about your or your families immigration status you do not need to. That being said, how many of you are either immigrants or have parents that immigrated to the united states.
[Small Group Activity] For the persons who they or their parents are immigrants to the united states, if you are willing to, I’m going to have you be in the hot seat. Small groups of your peers will interview you about the experience, collecting information that you would expect to find on a culturagram.
A culturagram is a graphical representation of culture on an individual family member. These interactions, made up similar to an eco-map. It has the following components we think about.
- Time in county
- Legal status
- Age of family members at time of immigration
- Language spoken at home & in community
- Health beliefs
- Holidays and special events
- Impact of crisis events
- Family, education, and work values
- Contract with cultural institutions
- Reasons for immigration