Cultural Considerations for Social Service Agencies Working with Muslim Clients

Abstract

Social service agencies and practitioners are continually challenged to provide services that are effective for, and reflective of, cultural and religious diversity. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 50 social work practitioners in four Canadian cities to gain insight into methods of practice that are culturally sensitive for work with Muslim clients. No hard-and-fast rules are identified, but the findings point to some cultural values and issues to consider (in particular the roles of faith and spirituality, community, family, gender, and perceptions of service seeking) and ways that agencies can be responsive to the cultural needs of Muslim clients (in particular by understanding pathways to care, explaining cultural difference, and providing culturally sensitive services). Implications for agencies providing services and future research directions are discussed.

African American Muslims: Intersectionality and Cultural Competence

“…Movies like Mooz‐lum (Peace Film & Basir, ) and agencies such as Inner‐City Muslim Action Network (http://www.imancentral.org), CAIR (http://www.cair.com), and the Islamic Society of North America (http://www.isna.net) serve as a useful starting point for any counselor. Although counselors may seek to gain knowledge outside of the client–counselor interaction process, researchers have suggested that an approach that allows the client to be the expert and the counselor the learner is beneficial when a counselor is working with Muslim Americans (Cashwell & Young, ; Graham, Bradshaw, & Trew, ).…”

Towards Spiritually Sensitive Social Work in a Multi Ethnic Western World

“…Therefore, adoption of broad frameworks of cultural sensitivity is imperative. Culture undergoes change as it intersects with all variables of gender, race, geography, race and class (Graham, Bradshaw, and Trew, 2010). In modern social work a void of a great nature exists as attempts to locate both religion and spirituality within the framework of social work are nascent and apologetic.…”

Relational Social Work Practice with Diverse Populations

“…Literature on social work with Muslims has expanded over the past 10 years (Graham et al 2010 ;Hodge 2005 ;Hodge and Nadir 2008 ;Nadir 2003 ), but in general little content on Islam is included in social work education Hodge and Nadir 2008 ). Clinical practice guidance in particular has been lacking.…”

“…Most of what practitioners do know is based on media stereotypes of Islam and Muslims. As relational clinical practitioners, it is important to become familiar with the worldview of the Muslim client in order to understand the role the client's faith plays in his or her life, as well as in the resolution of the challenges he or she may be facing (Graham et al 2010 ).…”

“…While Muslims follow the tenets of Islam to varying degrees, the relational clinician should assume an adherence to the fundamental principles of the fi ve pillars of Islam (Graham et al 2010 ). Religious identity and expression will be dictated by level of practice.…”