Understanding Cultural Differences as a CYW

 My professor started this week's class by handing out a case study and we were divided into groups to decide what we would do as Child and Youth Workers. The case study was about a child who was showing up to school with unexplained bruises. The case worker in the scenario went to the family's home and began to ask questions about the bruises. The mother pointed to bamboo and a bag with rocks, and said something in her own language which the case worker did not understand. 

My first reaction to this scenario without doing any research was to inform the parents of the children's rights in Canada. After researching the meaning of the bamboo and rocks, our class learned that they were used for a healing ceremony performed in their culture. 

It is a hard position as a case worker, because the child's well being comes first and although the family is not trying to harm their child, it is important to make sure that the child is safe at home. A possible solution that my class came up with to solve this dilemma was to see if there were any services in the community that would preform these healing ceremonies in a less harmful way that would not leave bruises or be painful.

We also watched a scene from Grey's Anatomy where a youth was sick and needed surgery and her parents wanted to take her home despite her urgent need for medical care. Her culture involved respecting elders, and her father wanted to have a healing ritual done before her surgery. The hospital realized why the family wanted to take their daughter home, and the doctor made a proposition to the father. The doctor had someone fly to the hospital to perform the healing ritual and they were able to proceed with surgery when it was finished. 

As a Child and Youth Worker, I learned from the doctor's actions that it is important to understand and respect people's culture when asking to help someone.When the doctor catered to the family's cultural needs, he was able to gain their trust and perform the surgery with the family's permission. In the field it is important to go the extra mile and be open to other cultures so that we can connect with our clients and help them to the best of our ability. 

I am looking forward to our next class to continue expanding my cultural awareness!