Child Care in Practice
2018

Practice guidance for culturally sensitive practice in working with children and families who are asylum seekers: learning from an early years study in Ireland (Article in Press)

McGregor C.* , Dalikeni C. , Devaney C. , Moran L. , Garrity S.
  • a UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
  • b School of Business and Humanities, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Louth, Ireland
  • c UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
  • d Department of Social Sciences, Edgehill University, Ormskirk, United Kingdom
  • e UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland

Abstract

This article is based on a study of two early years services in the West of Ireland which was attended mostly by asylum seekers. Using a sample of the findings for illustration, we discuss how the study captured an example of culturally sensitive practice that demonstrated an ability to counteract some of the negative effects of being an asylum seeker through the particular philosophy and practice model. Eight specific guidance points for practice are drawn out and considered within the context of the ecological model [Bronfenbrenner, U., & Morris, P. (2006). The bioecological model of human development. In R. M. Lerner, W. Damon, & R. M. S. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child Psychology, Vol. 1: Theoretical models of human development. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley]. We argue that a duality of attention to the agency—recognising the importance of the actions of each individual and to structure—recognising the inherent power differences, structural inequality, social injustice and prejudice—is essential. We show the importance of agency and of an ecological framework. We make the case for an approach to “cultural competence” that emphasises the importance of interactions at the micro level. While we are focused in this paper on the early years sector, there is also wider applicability from this specific study to general practice in the field of social care and social work with diverse populations. © 2019, © 2019 The Child Care in Practice Group.

Author Keywords

Cultural competence framework for practice

Index Keywords

general practice Prejudice child psychology theoretical study attention human development cultural competence Social Work Article asylum seeker philosophy human Learning Ireland Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85059906138&doi=10.1080%2f13575279.2018.1555137&partnerID=40&md5=3612b60d0a852e13709f0c5d0972297e
DOI: 10.1080/13575279.2018.1555137
ISSN: 13575279
Original Language: English