Theoretical Application to a Culturally Sensitive Practice Situation
“Social workers help people deal with problems ranging from personal relationships to lack of resources to blatant discrimination” (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2009, p. 29). Using the scenario involving Soledad and her family I will conduct a theoretical application to her culturally sensitive situation. I will complete this application by conducting a self reflection including my awareness of the situation as well as the sensitive issues, and my values and beliefs that may challenged by this case. I will also discuss the systems and ecological theories and how they are illustrated in the case. This will be followed by my empowerment approach and client engagement.
Self Reflection
Awareness
After reviewing the case I understood the client, Soledad, is a homosexual woman, recently divorced with two children, and living with her domestic partner, Cecile. She has just been seriously injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, and is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). She is in and out of consciousness and calling for Cecile to be by her side. Soledad’s sister and parents have come to the hospital after learning of the accident. Her relationship with her sister is stable however; her relationship with her parents has been estranged for some time as a result of their feeling about her homosexuality and her African American partner. Soledad and her domestic partner Cecile has been in a stable committed relationship and identifies themselves as having a legal domestic partnership.
Hospital policy prevents Soledad’s partner and children from visiting her in her room. This policy also prevents nurses and other medical staff from reporting any medical information regarding Soledad to her partner because the health care system does not legally recognize Cecile as Soledad’s family member. However,