A Developmental Framework for Cultural Competence Training with Children

This article presents a developmental framework for cultural competence training with children. Formulated from psychosocial and ecological theories, the framework recommends as a basis for competence training that social workers synchronize training with children's developmental levels and cultural learning readiness in cognitive, affective, and behavioral areas. The article also examines the historical roles of public schools in cultural competence training and the characteristics of training approaches. This article builds on existing knowledge by translating multicultural practice theory into concrete skills and methods that social workers can use in their partnership with schools. Examples of strategies are provided for each developmental level. Using the proposed framework, the objective is to train children to be knowledgeable about their own and other cultural similarities and differences, to be other-aware and empathic, to be highly skilled in intergroup interaction, and to integrate their experiences toward social activism.