Professional Context
Professional associations, such as the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), and the American School Counselors Association (ASCA) have established codes of ethics that guide the practices of counseling. Actively building an understanding of diverse cultures and avoiding the imposition of personal values and beliefs are among the ethical responsibilities of counselors (ACA, 2014). This requires ongoing self-evaluation, a commitment to upholding the values of the profession, and continuous education.

Scenario
As a new counseling intern, you have been assigned a site supervisor. In preparation for your first supervision session, your assigned site supervisor has asked you to complete the Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge and Skills Survey (MAKSS) (results are attached) so that you are prepared to discuss goals related to building your cultural competence during your work together.

Assignment Instructions
Use my results from the MAKSS survey which is attached

In your Plan to Build Cultural Competence, make sure you address the following:
Describe your areas of strength and growing edges relative to your results on the MAKSS.
o What were your strongest areas on the MAKSS?
o Which areas of the MAKSS did you see your lowest scores?
o How does this provide you with opportunities for growth?

Explain how your commitment to building cultural competence aligns with the 2014 ACA
Code of Ethics specific to your future as a school counselor.
o Which code of ethics is most relevant to your future as School Counselor?
o What does your Code of Ethics prescribe as necessary for professionals with regards to
cultural competence?
o How can you use this information, in alignment with your MAKSS results, to narrow down
areas for creating personal development goals?

Identify at least one SMART (see attached) goal each, based on your results on the MAKSS, for
expanding your cultural awareness, knowledge, and skill.

For each area of the MAKSS (awareness, knowledge, and skills) think about:
o What is your goal?
o How does it align with the SMART principles?
o How will this goal help you to develop one or more of your growing edges relative to your
results on the MAKSS?
o How will it help you illustrate cultural competence in line with the Code of Ethics that is most
relevant to you?
o How will the goal help expand your cultural awareness, knowledge, and skill?

Propose at least one measurable strategy per goal you will commit to tracking this quarter for advancing your cultural awareness, knowledge, and skill.

For each goal, think about:
o What is the strategy?
o In what ways is it measurable?
o Would retaking the MAKSS support you in assessing your overall progress in building
awareness, knowledge and skill?
o How does it align with your developmental goal?
o How will it help you report on your progress at the end of the quarter?

Communicate goals that are relevant and align with personal reflections of the MAKKS.
o Apply the principles of effective composition.
o Determine the proper application of the rules of grammar and mechanics.
o Determine the proper application of APA formatting requirements and scholarly writing
standards.
o Assess the relevance and credibility of information sources.