Culture has
an innate ability to sway our opinions and affect our decision-making. We
become so influenced by our culture that it affects our choices, attitudes, and
views. Some children are born into a
culture that seems unfair or unjust while others are born into a culture of
learning and reasoning. I was born into
a culture with two parents who have taught me right from wrong. I was fortunate to have a loving culture. Some children are not as fortunate. My Cultural Reporter Project is centered on a
foster care unit at CEDRS here in Lincoln for young women whose culture has
been shattered in terms of support from their biological parents. Now they
enter a new culture that will hopefully help prepare them for life. The unit Group Home is called TLC which is a
community based residential center designed to meet the needs of teen females
from the ages of 13 to 18.
Cultural
Shock is defined by the Oxford dictionary as “the feeling of disorientations
experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way
of life, or set of attitudes.”
Many of
these young girls are hit with culture shock the first month of living at the
Group home and in many cases over a year before they feel loved and
secure.
According to Janelle Boehm, an
administrative counselor at CEDRS TLC, notes, “that culture shock is dealt with
every girl that comes in because their life alters in a sense that new rules
are set forth and they don’t trust anyone or feel loved.
It’s a difficult process at first. Their
surroundings have changed drastically.
Based on their situation, we do our best to teach them over time the
Life Skills needed to help them succeed once they graduate.”
CEDARS mission is to help children who have
been abused, neglected or homeless achieve safety, stability and enduring
family relationships.
With that said,
these young women have been through many circumstances that culture shock has
already played a role in their life.
Each girl from CEADARS comes from a different
social environment and background. They are exposed to different cultures and a
different way of life, which will expose them to new ideas and understandings
that may not be the norm.
I have made
good strides in collecting data for my project.
I have obtained materials explaining how the Teaching, Learning and
Connecting (TLC) Group home operates.
I’ve spoken to two administrators at TLC to
understand the core values and mission statement of the Group Home. Also, I
took notes to fully understand the criteria on how and why certain girls are
given the opportunity to live at TLC.
Although I cannot interview any of the young
girls on video I can interview a few girls with an administrator in the same
room to get an understanding of their past and current cultures. I cannot
provide names of the girls, but simply report Girl A and Girl B. I’m in the
process of setting up these interviews.
I
have also interviewed my mother who works at the TLC Group Home to understand
the guidelines and generalities of the program. She is a part-time employee at
CEDARS.
The interview went well because
I now have a greater understanding on the various Life Skills provided to each
girl in the home.
This will help prepare
me when formalizing my interview questions surrounding identity, culture shock,
and intercultural communication between the girls and support staff of the
Group home.
I’m also seeking an
interview with a young adult who has already been through the program.
Overall, the process is going well.
References:
Oxford Dictionaries." Oxford Dictionaries.
N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.
Janelle Boehm administrative counselor at CEDRS TLC
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