Rlt2 Task 1

In order for all people to have equal access to social justice counseling and/or therapy, there must be a universal system that allow for all people to have to have the same opportunities to help. In order for professional helpers to help all people, individuals, institutions and education systems must have the same clear vision of an ideal multicultural climate. As a student that is studying to become a counseling professional, my primary concern is enhancing my skills and gaining the experience and expertise of helping others. However, in the professional counseling field it is not about “I” it’s about working together to build systems, developing skills and helping all people. In order to influence change, one must be committed and engaged in continuously improving one’s perception of cultural identity and

This paper will introduce and define the need for Multicultural awareness as a clinical mental health counselor. It will further explore examples of various topics in Multicultural counseling such as: Racial and ethnic diversity, gender and social economic status. As a result of this research, in Multicultural awareness, the self-assessment rendered the identity of myself. It allowed me to realize what and who I was as “other.” In realizing who I was as “other”, I saw my own self-identity, and some of my flaws. Therefore, this assessment made me realize the need to develop a plan to correct areas of which demonstrated lower scores in: acceptance of change, stereotyping, and assuming may interfere as a mental health counselor if not corrected. Multicultural Self-Assessment After taking the multicultural self-assessment, my results revealed the following about myself. For the most part of this assessment, my strongest points were rounded in cultural diversity and understanding. Contrary to such, I scored lower in the areas of “assuming something is when it’s not,” “stereotyping,” and “adapting new changes” (Petrone, M. C. 2004). Lastly, more often than not results displayed equality, and positive outlook type of personality. For example, in posting to the discussion board, I tried to respond to topics without, disrespecting ones’ values, and at the same time introducing awareness about the topic. First Time I Realized I was “Other” The first

Regional School Unit (RSU) #64 is comprised of an elementary, middle and high school within a small rural community in the town of Corinth, ME. This community is largely supported by agriculture and local business. However, it is about 20 miles from Bangor, ME, the closest city with numerous resources. Unfortunately, this distance restricts Corinth residents with a lack of transportation from having access to these resources. Inadequate knowledge and awareness of health care promotion and prevention methods also have adverse results on community health. Whether the resource be obtaining a pair of glasses or medication from a pharmacy, even the seemingly effortless tasks can present challenges and go to show that members of this community suffer disparity due to their rural location.

Due to the increase in racial and ethnic diversity in the United Sates there is a great need to provide counseling interventions that cater for social issues that are attributed to the racial and ethnic diversity. Presently, efforts are being made to implement social justice advocacy strategies and interventions into counseling practices. Thus, counselors are encouraged to be agents and advocates for social justice, oppression, and discrimination (Ratts & Hutchins, 2009). At the forefront of social justice counseling approaches, is the need to empower the oppressed or marginalized individual by confronting injustices and inequalities that affect the individual at the systemic level (Pedersen, Lonner, Draguns, Trimble, & Rio, 2015).

To effectively lessen the effects of lifelong racism and discrimination, Hays & Erford (2014) recommends a strength-based approach, with the counselor focusing on the individual and family capacities. Focusing on the client’s positive attributes and favorable cultural norms can encourage one to become more resilient (Vaterlaus, Skogrand, & Chaney, 2015). Furthermore, applying counseling skills such as unconditional positive regard, empathy, consistency, focusing on the client, and providing a supportive environment can all help the therapeutic relationship (Hays & Erford, 2014). Additionally, making the counselor/client relationship equal will also allow the client to feel more comfortable, may dispel the mistrust of counseling prominent in African American culture (Hays & Erford, 2014). Finally, acknowledging the racial differences with the client could encourage them to discuss the racism and discrimination they may have experienced (Hays & Erford, 2014).

I met with Dr. Slack Tuesday regarding the SRCL inventory that has to be kept post SRCL. Because materials were purchased with federal funds inventory must be kept up to 5 years. She did tell me that possibly a check would happen within the first 3 years after the end of the grant. At this point I think we have a couple of options and I will defer to your suggestions:

Today's education is often viewed as failing in its goal of educating students, especially those students characterized as minorities, including African American, Hispanic, and Appalachian students (Quiroz, 1999). Among the minority groups mentioned, African American males are affected most adversely. Research has shown that when Black male students are compared to other students by gender and race they consistently rank lowest in academic achievement (Ogbu, 2003), have the worst attendance record (Voelkle, 1999), are suspended and expelled the most often (Raffaele Mendez, 2003; Staples, 1982), are most likely to drop out of school, and most often fail to graduate from high school or to earn a GED (Pinkney, 2000; Roderick, 2003).

At national level the department of Environmental affairs (DEA), Water and Sanitation and Agriculture (DWA), Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) have a joint initiative to work for wetlands, DEA (2017). All of the above mentioned departments have environmental legislation with regard to wetlands, for example, the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA), the National Water Act 36 of 1998 (NWA), the Environmental Conservation Act 73 of 1989 (ECA), Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 43 of 1983 (CARA) and the Constitution of South Africa: Bill of Rights, Govender-Ragubeer (2014). At provisional level the departments include: the Department of Health, DEA, DWA, Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment and Department of

How can counselors work to lessen the effects of racism and discrimination that have impacted Native Americans and Asian Americans? (1

While it is important to understand the social injustices that many clients face, it is also critical to know exactly why these injustices occur. It is also important that counselors attempt to change the structures that are responsible for the oppression of mental health clients. This social justice movement is sometimes referred to as professional counseling’s fifth force (Ratts, D’Andrea, & Arredondo, 2004)—in other words advocacy counseling.

This essay is a review of literature on the different aspects of social justice as it relates to counseling. The paper focuses on best practices and other elements that influence the service delivery for clinical mental health counselors. The Social Justice Counseling Movement The social justice counseling movement is associated with the different aspects of advocacy and protection of the rights and interests of the patients.

The United States of America is known for being a country filled with people of many different ethnic backgrounds. Likewise, the student population in schools is just as diverse as it continues to grow. Lynch (2015) notes that schools are expected to teach their students “how to synthesize cultural differences into their knowledge base” as this will help “facilitate students’ personal and professional success in a diverse world” (para. 8). Educators must be able to provide for the diverse needs of students and are expected to equip students with skills that can lead to healthy development as it can affect higher levels of student achievement and students have more opportunities of success in their future. Providing students with tools and skills requires an awareness and acceptance of their ethnic identity. Once students have developed self-acceptance about their ethnic identity, they can begin to feel empowered and motivated to do well. Through cultural empowerment, students of color can develop intrinsic motivation and achieve academic success.

Social justice counseling aims to practice conditions that allow for equal access and opportunity and it reduces or eliminates disparities in education, healthcare, employment, and other areas that lower the quality of life for affected people (Sue & Sue, 2003). The United States prides itself on ensuring equitable treatment amongst its people, and that is why it is referred to as the “melting pot”. People migrate to this country seeking a life free of prejudice due to their religion, gender, socioeconomic status or anything else that could hinder one from having equal access to the same liberties as others. Due to an array of cultures such as Arab Americans, Jewish American, Native Americans and African Americans, counselors must become culturally competent in all four disciplines and any other culture that their client(s) associates with. All four of the cultures mentioned have some similarities and differences that one must understand prior to the first counseling session in order to successfully assist the client.

Society may have the perception of mental health counselors working one-on-one with clients as a way of providing services and expertise in counseling. Mental health counselors have various methods and opportunities to expand how effective they can be for the overall benefit of the client. Advocacy serves as processes that assist in this process (Moe, Perera-Diltz, & Sepulveda, 2010). This paper will explore social justice and multicultural counseling as it relates to worldviews and an individual’s perception of their locus of control. Also explored in this paper will be a case study and the impact of social justice advocacy on the clients identified in the case study and members of their marginalized community.

It is clear that a student’s socioeconomic background and race are some of the most influential factors that determines a student’s academic success. The students background can either promote or hinder their success in the classroom. Students that come from better off economic backgrounds are more likely to have access and participate in organized activities. Working class may not have access to these activities, and may have their priorities elsewhere.