The Contribution of Ethnographic Interviewing to Culturally Competent Practice (PN #10)

Abstract

Culturally competent practice is generally recognized as indispensable for child welfare practitioners, yet skills and techniques are somewhat elusive. Cultures have differing views and standards for acceptable parenting practices. The stakes are high in assessing risk of harm to vulnerable children. How can the practitioner interpret, assess, and then address the problems of families whose lives and experiences are so different from their own? Ethnography provides a framework for delivering culturally competent services. This issue of Practice Notes provides an introduction to ethnographic interviewing.