Cross Cultural Consultation

Tips for working with families

• When working with any families but particularly those from cross cultural backgrounds it is best to work collaboratively. 
• Working collaboratively helps us to make sure we focus on the parents’ goals. Parents are the experts on their family, facilitators are there to provide some ideas about programs and strategies that may assist them to meet their goals.
• Not all families are the same, even families from the same cultural background. It is important to acknowledge that there is no one single way to parent. It is also important to establish unique goals with each family.
• Present a range of strategies as a menu of options, and invite parents to select strategies that they feel are relevant and appropriate for their family and situation. Be prepared to tailor strategies to suit the needs of parents.
• The family is the best source of information about whether specific childhood behaviours are seen as a problem, or whether they are viewed as normal in their cultural context.
• When working with families collaboratively, it is helpful to learn about the family’s cultural background and beliefs so that information can be shared more effectively, and to avoid unhelpful and unrealistic suggestions and strategies.
• Families may or may not have difficulty understanding written language even when it is translated, so it is essential to find out how helpful the written materials will be before you start any program.
• Allow more time for consultations with parents from a different language and cultural background, particularly when working with an interpreter.

Tips for working with an interpreter

• Brief the interpreter before the interview.
• It is best not to use family members or friends as interpreters. Always use a fully trained and appropriately qualified interpreter. Your interpreter is not an authority on the cultural values of your client; in fact their experiences, values and beliefs may be significantly different from those of the client. Find out about this kind of contextual and cultural information from the family themselves.
• If in doubt about the family’s English skills, it is best to work with an interpreter – but check with the family first.
• Clarify technical or complex terms with the interpreter before the interview or during the interview if needed.
• Face the client (and not the interpreter) when you are speaking to the client and when you are listening to the interpreted response.
• Address the client directly. (i.e. avoid addressing the interpreter when you mean to speak to the client, e.g. “Ask her …”)
• Provide adequate pauses to allow time for the interpretation.
• Check accuracy of the interpretation by asking the interpreter to back translate from time to time, or by asking the parent to summarise their understanding of material covered in the session.
• Avoid role confusion. You are the interviewer, not the interpreter. It is your job to control the interview, clarify, respond to the questions and ensure the client understands and is comfortable with the process.

Source: Positive Parenting Program: resources for parents, a positive approach to raising children (CD-ROM), produced by Parenting Research Centre 2007