Cultural Sensitivity

Principle: Cultural differences can underlie or exacerbate conflicts.

Promise: Being culturally sensitive can reduce conflicts and foster respect.

Playbook:

1. Understand Cultural Backgrounds: Learn about the diverse cultural backgrounds of the individuals in your recovery home. This knowledge can help you understand behaviors and reactions that are influenced by cultural factors.
2. Respect Differences: Show respect for all cultural practices and beliefs. Avoid making assumptions based on your own cultural norms and recognize the value of diverse perspectives and beliefs.
3. Avoid Assumptions: Be mindful not to jump to conclusions about someone’s behavior based on their cultural background. Instead, ask open-ended questions to gain clarity about their actions or responses.
4. Learn from Interactions: Use every interaction as an opportunity to learn more about different cultures. Encourage sharing of cultural perspectives among residents and staff to enhance mutual understanding.
5. Apply Cultural Knowledge: Utilize your understanding of cultural differences in your conflict navigation strategies. Tailoring your approach to be culturally appropriate can lead to more effective and respectful resolutions.

Prompt: Identify a cultural misunderstanding that occurred recently in your recovery home. Reflect on how the situation was handled and how increased cultural sensitivity could have altered the outcome. Plan how you might handle a similar situation differently in the future.