Multicultural Social Work in Canada: Working with Diverse Ethno-Racial Communities

Multicultural Social Work in Canada is divided into two sections. Section one outlines the knowledge and skills required for effective multicultural practice. Chapters in this introductory section discuss such topics as culturally competent social work with individuals, families, and communities; social policy; working with people who immigrated to Canada; and working in the context of racial plurality in diverse communities of Canadian society. Section Two contains personal narratives of social work with Canadians of different ethno-racial backgrounds, such as Italian, Arab, Jewish, Ukrainian, Aboriginal, Africa, Caribbean, South Asian, and Franco-Ontarian. Each chapter in this section focuses on the author's experiences working with the community under study at varying levels of practice-family, group, and community. This analysis offers a starting point for readers to reflect on their own experiences and assumptions of multicultural practice with diverse ethno-racial communities. Major themes include differential processes in seeking help and the importance of taking into account a community's history or an individual's age, gender, acculturation, or socio-economic status when developing strategies for social work in multicultural settings.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Preface Contributors Chapter 1: Alean Al-Krenawi and John R. Graham: Introduction Chapter 2: Marie Lacroix, Concordia University: Culturally Appropriate Knowledge and Skills Required for Effective Multicultural Practice with Individuals, Families, and Small Groups Chapter 3: Douglas Durst, University of Regina and Peg Delanghe, Graduate student, University of Regina: Culturally Appropriate Social Work for Successful Community Development in Diverse Communities Chapter 4: Carole Pigler Christensen, University of British Columbia: Canadian Society: Social Policy and Ethno-Racial Diversity Chapter 5: June Ying Yee, Ryerson University and Gary C. Dumbrill, University of Victoria: Whiteout: Looking for Race in Canadian Social Work Practice Chapter 6: Ghislaine Roy, Service d'aide aux refugies et immigrants du Montreal Metropolitain and Catherine Montgomery, Centre de recherche et de formation and McGill University: Practice with Immigrants in Quebec Section 2: Personal Narratives On Social Work with Diverse Ethno-Racial Communities Chapter 7: Romona Alaggia, University of Western Ontario and Elsa Marziali, University of Toronto: Social Work with Canadians of Italian Background: Applying Cultural Concepts to Bicultural and Intergenerational Issues in Clinical Practice Chapter 8: Alean Al-Krenawi and John R. Graham: Social Work with Canadians of Arab Background: Insight into Direct Practice Chapter 9: Ross A. Klein, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Julia Mirsky, Ben-Gurion University of Negev: Social Work with Canadians of Jewish Background: Guidelines for Direct Practice Chapter 10: Connie Barlow and Ashley Barlow: Social Work with Canadians of Ukrainian Background: History, Direct Practice, Current Realities Chapter 11: Brad McKenzie, University of Manitoba and Vern Morrissette, Director of Metis Child and Family Services for Manitoba: Social Work Practice with Canadians of Aboriginal Background: Guidelines for Respectful Social Work Chapter 12: David Welch: The Franco-Ontarian Community: From a Period of Resistance to New Social Solidarities and Practices Chapter 13: David Este, Cultural Diversity Institute, University of Calgary and Wanda Thomas-Bernard, professor and director, Maritime School of Social Work in Halifax: Social Work Practice with African Canadians: An Examination of the African-Nova Scotian Community Chapter 14: Narda Razak, York University: Canadians of Caribbean Background: Postcolonial and Critical Race Perspectives for Practice Chapter 15: Sarah Maiter, Wilfrid Laurier University: The Context of Culture: Social Work Practice with Canadians of South Asian Background

About the Author :
John Graham is an Associate Professor and is the PhD program coordinator for the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. His research interests include cultural and international social work practice, social work and diversity, qualitative (ethnographic and historical) research methodologies, social policy/social planning and social welfare history. Alean Al-Krenawi teaches in the Spitzer Department of Social Work at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. His work has appeared in the Journal of Women and Social Work, Health and Social Work and the Journal of Social Psychology.