How U.S. Social Work Students are Prepared to Work with Culturally Diverse Individuals: A Scoping Review of...

Globalization exerts its influence on every nation and impacts all members of society, whether through direct or indirect means. Now more than ever, U.S. social workers must implement cultural competence, cultural humility, cultural awareness, and other similar constructs while working with culturally diverse individuals, families, and communities to ensure effective and culturally responsive practice. The Council on Social Work Education directs social work programs to teach students these invaluable constructs. However, it remains unclear which construct is most effective and how it is regularly measured, how these constructs are taught, and once they are taught, if knowledge is gained and applied directly in the field. This scoping review analyzed literature from 2012-2022 to determine how U.S.-based social work students are equipped to work with culturally diverse individuals. Findings indicate that diverse constructs exist but often lack a clear definition, and similar constructs are measured inconsistently, with many studies utilizing unvalidated measures. The literature also points to a myriad of interventions aimed at helping social work students glean the necessary knowledge and skills to work within cultural diversity, including mostly U.S.-based learning opportunities, international opportunities, and a combination of the two.