Cultural Background and Heritage: Importance for Human Services Providers
Human service providers must comprehend the racial and ethnic backgrounds and heritage of different populations in order to help the communities they serve. For instance, among the racial groups worth analyzing is the African Americans. The individuals in this group are descendants of those from Africa, and their heritage is influenced profoundly by issues of slavery and immigration (Diller, 2018, p.13-1). European nations, such as the British and the Spanish, once impacted African American culture (Diller, 2018, p.13-1). As a result, the reason why it is important to understand the backgrounds of different communities is that it helps human service providers build trust and tailor their approach to the client.
Current Challenges Faced by African Americans
Nowadays, the given racial group faces many challenges, among which are systemic racism and healthcare issues. On the one hand, African Americans are exposed to racism, experiencing restrictions regarding mobility and choices. For example, only 20% of black people have a higher degree, such as a bachelor’s degree, compared to their white counterparts, 34% of which have a higher degree (Diller, 2018, p.4-3). This shows the low mobility experienced by this racial group.
On the other hand, African Americans have increased rates of mortality associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, asthma, and influenza (Diller, 2018, p.4-3). Therefore, these challenges might negatively affect the group’s mental well-being.
Effective Strategies and Available Resources for Supporting Diverse Populations
Lastly, human service providers can implement several strategies to help the group. The first approach is based on collaborating with local organizations and agencies that can assist African American people. For example, the Center for African American Health offers mental, physical, and oral health services, food access, and family services (Center for African American Health, n.d.).
Another method is to offer culturally sensitive services that can concentrate on the individual needs of the representatives. Regarding resources, in terms of education, agencies or organizations can provide individuals with schooling, job training, and financial counseling. Moreover, agencies can collaborate with healthcare providers to offer African American individuals access to healthcare services.
References
Center for African American Health. (n.d.). Resources. Web.
Diller, J. V. (2018). Cultural diversity: A primer for the human services. Cengage Learning.