An Approach for Engaging with a Mixed-Race, Rural Community Using Social Work Values and a Community-Based Participatory Research Framework

Purpose: This paper describes the engagement approach used to enter a rural, mixed-race and multicultural community to address trauma. Methods: Field notes and memos were used to document the engagement process and compared to the NASW Social Work Code of Ethics and a Community-Based Participatory Action Research framework. Results: The social work values and CBPR components that align with our engagement process are: (1) maintaining that the primary responsibility is to the client/community; (2) having the professional competence, cultural, and personal humility for collaboration; (3) listening to the client/community; (4) promoting dignity and worth of community members and fostering self-determination; and (5) human relationships are central to the overall work. Discussion: Implications for social workers when engaging with a mixed-race multicultural community is to continually ask the question, whose voice is missing and how can it be included to gain a complete picture of the community and its needs.