A Youth Leader's Guide to Building Cultural Competence 

If they are Native American, what is their, and their family's history? Tribe(s)?  

Which cultural values, beliefs, attitudes, customs, traditions and behaviors remain? 

What traits of the dominant culture have been absorbed? 

Immigration Status  

Immigration status refers to whether or not an individual is classified as a refugee, an immigrant or an 

undocumented ( illegal ). How one is labeled by the U.S. government has important implications for the 

kinds of services one can expect and rights one has in this country.  

Refugees flee their countries due to fear of persecution or death. As a result of political upheaval and war, 

refugees have often experienced the traumas of rape, torture, starvation and the witnessing of family 

members being tortured or killed. Designation as a  refugee  can mean a period of cash assistance and 

with employment, housing and medical services from the government.

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Immigrants generally have more control over the conditions surrounding their migration. There are many 

reasons behind an individual or family's decision to come to the U.S. While the journey can certainly be 

difficult, it is likely that the trauma is not of the same degree or quality as it is for refugees. The 

designation  immigrant  can open access to government assistance with medical, educational or food 

programs.

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The determination of who is a refugee and who is an immigrant is based on U.S. political policy; the 

categories are not set in stone, nor are they always consistent.  

Lastly, due to immigration quotas set for each country, those who enter the U.S. without official sanction 

are labeled as  undocumented.  The world of undocumented migrants is difficult, as fear of discovery 

and deportation hang over them. No government services are available for those who are undocumented 

and finding employment is very difficult because employers face severe fines for hiring undocumented 

individuals.

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Questions to consider about individuals: __________ 

Are they refugees, immigrants or undocumented? Are they U.S. citizens? Are any or all family 

members U.S. citizens? 

What was their migration experience? Did they arrive in the U.S. alone or with family members? 

Are their family members still in the native country? Are they in touch? Are they offering 

financial assistance to folks back home?  

Are they married to U.S. citizens? 

Do they live in a community with others from their homeland? 

Do they live in communities with people from different racial and ethnic groups? How do those 

groups get along? 

Have they moved within the U.S. since arriving here? Where else have they lived? 

Do they   or their families   plan to stay in the U.S. or do they hope to return home one day? 

Are they U.S. citizens or dual nationals? 

Political Power 

Political power can be defined as a group's level of formal involvement in local, state and national 

governments as well as in informal advocacy organizations. 

Those with political power are able to influence public policy decisions, often to the benefit of the group's 

interests. Those groups who are left out of the political process have no guarantee that they will be well