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Overview
In the Cultural Background Paper, you will describe the background of your parents or primary caregivers regarding family culture and how this background impacts you both personally and professionally as a counselor. If you have a multi-racial background, pick the 2 most predominant cultures represented from your family background. You will consider how your cultural background influenced the family system patterns found in your family of origin, your identity development, and the role of culture and social justice in your counseling theoretical perspective. Specifically, you will look at some of the research describing people from your background, explore internet resources related to your culture, and interview your parents/significant care givers or other significant family members to get information. Below you will find further information.
Instructions
Please utilize the guidelines noted below in completing this assignment:
· This paper should be around 2000 words. Please note that the quality of your answer is important, and use the approximate words count noted in each section (#1 – #4) as you craft your responses for each section.  
· Please use the current APA style which is the 7th edition of the APA publication manual that includes information on appropriate formatting for section headings, levels of section headings, in-text citations (narrative and parenthetical), and references. In addition, review the sample professional paper for further specifics on APA formatting. For more information on APA formatting and sample papers, please see the APA Format Quick Guide link listed under the Resources header on the assignment page.
· Scholarly (peer-reviewed) sources are required and must be published within the last 5 years. A minimum of five scholarly (5) sources are required for this assignment, and you are welcome to use more as needed in your research.  
· Acceptable scholarly sources include journal articles, scholarly websites, relevant chapters from the McGoldrick et al. supplemental e-book. (E-book link for McGoldrick et al. located in syllabus.) NOTE: The Hays and Erford can be used as one of required sources.  
· In addition to the five (5) scholarly (peer-reviewed) sources, a minimum of two (2) Internet/media sources related to your culture should be utilized. These can include (but not limited to) periodical websites (newspapers, magazine) and organizational websites. (Online journal databases would be scholarly sources and not internet/media sources.)
· First person may be used in this paper. 
· For clarification, the Cultural Background Paper is not a focus on your family history, family genealogy, or family biography, but rather a focus on your cultural identity as it relates to the questions you will address in the assignment. 
For the two parts of this assignment, address the following prompts, and organize the paper based on the prompts using appropriate section heading and subsection heading format:
Cultural Background Paper
1. Identify 1 or 2 predominant cultures represented from your family background. You may describe your culture(s) by discussing the following (approximately 750 words):
· Personal background and identity (your background may include a single heritage or multiple heritages (e.g., multiracial, multiethnic); you may choose to include information about one or all; include the ones that have had the most influence if not all).
· When and how did you first become aware of your cultural background, and how did you respond to this (e.g., your specific group(s) and its impact on you of this awareness of being part of a specific or multiple groups).
· Prominent customs, practices, values, and behaviors to your family’s background (communication patterns, gender roles, marital roles, educational and vocational pursuits). The McGoldrick et al. (2005) textbook is a strongly recommended source. 
· Influence of cultural background on spirituality and/or religion as appropriate 
· Information about your family’s cultural background not previously known (new information).
2. Describe similarities and differences between your family of origin and other cultures whom you have encountered in the country/region where you grew up. Include a discussion of the positive AND negative experiences between you and the other cultures (approximately 250 words).
3. Provide a clear and in-depth exploration of how your research and knowledge gained about your family’s cultural background influences your perspective on the importance racial/cultural identity development for other individuals. As part of your narrative, integrate information from at least one model from the chapter titled “Cultural Identity Development” (chapter 2) of Hays/Erford into your response (approximately 500 words). 
4. Provide a clear and in-depth exploration of how your research and knowledge gained about your family’s cultural background shapes your view of conducting social justice and client advocacy for others (approximately 500 words).
Helpful Hints
· The recommended McGoldrick text may have a specific chapter on your group(s) that would be helpful. Here are some examples: Students with a White background often are initially stumped with this assignment because they haven’t considered their cultural background before. If you are White and have a Scots Irish background, there’s a specific McGoldrick chapter on that group. White and Colonial English? There’s one on that, too. German? The same. The key is for you to discover more specifically the culture(s) of your original White roots. If you have a Latino background from Cuba, there’s a specific chapter on that. Puerto Rico? The same. If you have an Asian background from Korea, there’s a specific chapter on that. Japan? The same. You get the idea. The McGoldrick text has chapters on specific subcultures rather than just the generic White, Asian, and Latino categories. Be as specific as possible in your cultural sources. If you have a U.S. Black background, it is acceptable to use general chapters on this group. Also, consider regional areas within the United States as a possible influence towards your cultural identity. For example, an individual born and raised in the Southwestern portion of the U.S. will have a different experience than one raised in the Northeast/New England area of the U.S.  
· In addition to looking at relevant research to obtain information on your cultural background, interview available family members as they may provide useful information as you develop this paper. 
· If you are from an adopted family background, focus on the cultural background of your adoptive parents. You might be surprised at how their cultural background influenced family system patterns in the home. If you are from a foster care background, this project may be painful for you. It can also be very healing and informative. Feel free to write about the Foster Care Culture and its impact on you if it fits with your background. You can share as much or as little as you want to share in your Cultural Background Paper. Take care of yourself in the paper-writing process and keep your instructor informed about your experience.
· Do not start this paper the week it is due. Start early. You’ll find it helpful to let your instructor know of any problems you’re experiencing so that brainstorming and problem-solving can take place. Your instructor will be limited in how they can help you in a meaningful manner if you only recognize you have a problem in the week the paper is due.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.