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Latino Cultural Competency Certificate -Overview

Arizona State University through the College of Public Programs, School of Social Work, offers a graduate certificate in Latino Cultural Competency to meet the growing demand for culturally and linguistically proficient social service professionals. The Latino Cultural Competency Certificate Program has been championed for the past 4 years by Josefina Ahumada, MSW (Tucson Component) and Dr. Juan Paz, Associate Professor, School of Social Work (Downtown Campus-Phoenix and Tucson Component).

Latino First GraderThe United States is the fifth largest Spanish speaking country in the world and continues to rapidly expand its Latino population. By 2010, one of every four U.S. resident will be Spanish Speaking.

 

Currently, in the greater United States over 18 million persons speak Spanish at home.   The school of social work offers Latino oriented courses with an emphasis on Spanish language development for professional social workers.

The goal of the program is to enhance a social work professional's capacity for engaging in culturally grounded practice with Latino clients and their families.

The program is intended for the professional who wants to:

  • Learn the social/cultural context and theoretical principles of social work practice with Latinos.
  • Learn the critical cross-cultural factors that influence a worker's competency in forming professional helping relationship with Latinos.
  • Learn the social service delivery issues invovled in providing services for bilingual, and limited or non-English speaking Latino population.
  • Expand their employment potential by adding an expertise in professional services with Latinos.

Eligibility Requirements:


Option One: Social Work Graduate Student

  • Graduate status in the ASU, College of Public Programs School of Social Work                          Latino Elder
  • Demonstrated proficiency in Spanish language.
Option Two: Community Professional Social Worker
  • Possess a Master of Social Work or Bachelor of Social Work, or a related masters degree
  • Demonstrated proficiency in Spanish language.
Option Three: Community Worker
  • The equivalency of a two-year work experience in the social service field
  • Undergraduate Degree
  • Demonstrated proficiency in Spanish language
Required Courses:

 

 

MSW Graduate Student 15 Credit Hours for the Latino Cultural Certificate

 

 

Element Requirements
Field Practice 6 Credit Hours of Field Practicum
Completion of 480 hours of field practicum with Latino clients/communities
(60% of case load is to be Spanish Speaking)
Social Work Course Work 3 Credit Hours: Diversity and Oppression in a Social Work Context
Latino Oriented Course Work 6 Credit Hours of Latino oriented course work. At least 3 credits are required to be taken from within the School of Social Work.

 

Community Professional Social Worker & Community Worker: 15 Credit Hours for the Latino Cultural Certificate

 

 

Element Requirements
Field Practice 6 Credit Hours of Independent Study Field Practice
Completion of 480 hours of field practice with Latino clients/communities
(60% of client caseload is to be Spanish Speaking). May petition to use place of employment.
Social Work Course Work 3 Credit Hours: Diversity and Oppression in a Social Work Context
MSW or BSW professional who has completed this course in the past five years may substitute this course with a Latino oriented course.
Latino Oriented Course Work 6 Credit Hours of Latino oriented course work. At least 3 credits are required to be taken from within the School of Social Work.

 

Sample of Social Work Latino Oriented Courses:

  • Social Work with Spanish Speaking Populations of the Southwest
  • Southwest Borderlands Immigration
  • Border Families and Community Asset Building
  • Community-University Collaborative Leadership Seminar 
  • Communication Skills with Latinos
  • Spanish for Native Speakers:  Social Work in the Borderlands