The Cultural Context and Ethics of Prevention - Personal Statement Example

It is in this context that gaining awareness of other people’s culture as well as cultural differences enables prevention professionals to become more sensitive to diversity of perspectives and values when it come to implementation of prevention efforts (Craig, 2004), Culture refers knowledge, values, experience and techniques that may be passed from one experienced individual of a certain community to relatively new members. It is in this aspect that am therefore compelled to address the critical issue of professionalism in substance abuse prevention programs.

What I consider to be the principle guidelines to effective substance abuse prevention program I have come across a lot of biases being perpetuated by prevention professionals which are in total disregard of the requirements of the ethical code of professional conduct. It is my expectation that a prevention professional should not in any way be biased to a victim or even colleagues based on gender, physical condition, economic status and others. Prevention professionals are therefore expected to widen their acceptance and understanding of individual and cultural differences.

In doing that they are expected to offer excellent services as well provide relevant information that is sensitive to such differences. It is my expectation that a prevention professional should in essence observe the ethical and technical standards of the profession, thus work hard to continually improve standards and quality of work in regard to service delivery to discharge professional duties to the best of his or her ability. Competency in professionalism is derived from good education and gaining of experience.

It should start with a good mastery of competencies in terms of knowledge and skills. According to Craig (2004), competence maintenance also requires a high level of commitment to professional improvement and learning that should go on throughout an individual’s professional life. Professionals should have diligence in going about their professional responsibilities. Diligence therefore compels a professional to offer services promptly and carefully without violating the ethical and technical standards.

It is also expected that prevention professionals should carefully plan, supervise and carry out adequate evaluation of what they have been mandated to do. Prevention professionals should have the ability to recognize boundaries hence should not go beyond what they are required to do. They should also be responsible for conducting self-assessment to find out levels of adequacy concerning their own competence. In real sense, prevention professionals should use best possible practices and principles in order to assess levels of risk factors as well as protective factors in a given community.

It is my view that in order to serve well people with diverse culture, they should demonstrate sensitivity to cultural similarities and differences so as to achieve perfect communication. This is very critical for maintenance and widening of public confidence as prevention experts are expected to carry out their roles with high degree of integrity. Personal interests and gain should therefore not compromise service delivery and trust. Honest difference in regard to opinions may then be accommodated but I don’t expect deceit to be accommodated with much comfort.

All matters relating to services offered should in essence be presented in a fair and accurate manner (White & Popovits, 2001). I also think that when it comes to