“You tell yourself, what do I know?”: Cultural competence in social service delivery with the Ethiopian community in Israel

Social service delivery to families from minority communities presents significant challenges in providing culturally competent care, particularly in sensitive contexts such as Planning, Intervention, and Evaluation Committees (PIECs). These committees address critical family matters, including risk assessments and out-of-home placement decisions, requiring a profound understanding of diverse cultural norms, perspectives, and practices. Research has indicated that social services often struggle to effectively integrate cultural considerations into their interventions, potentially undermining service quality and family engagement. The present study examined how social service professionals in PIECs navigate cultural differences when working with Ethiopian-Israeli families, exploring the challenges and adaptations required for culturally competent practice. A thematic analysis was conducted on semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 15 social workers in Israel who participate regularly in PIECs regarding children and their families from the Ethiopian community in Israel. The findings revealed several key cultural domains that shape service delivery and require careful consideration in social work practice, including patriarchal values, use of corporal punishment, embodied bonds, and differing communication styles. These findings highlight the need to build foundational knowledge of cultural competence, improve training programs for social service providers, develop culturally informed strategies, and ensure that practice and service delivery are inclusive and respectful of the cultural identities of minority communities.