Understanding culture is essential in social work, as families come from diverse backgrounds, each with unique values, beliefs, and experiences. The culturagram is a visual tool designed to help social workers gain deeper insight into how culture shapes a family’s life and decisions. This guide covers what the culturagram is, when and how to use it, its key components, and how it compares to tools like genograms and ecomaps
Definition of a Culturagram
The culturagram is a tool used by social workers to better understand families from different cultural backgrounds. It was created by Dr. Elaine Congress as a way to help professionals look beyond surface-level traits like race or ethnicity and explore the deeper cultural values, experiences, and challenges that shape a family’s life.
Unlike some other tools that focus mostly on family structure (like a genogram), the culturagram focuses on how culture affects a family’s everyday life. It looks at things like where the family comes from, why they moved, how long they’ve been in the community, what languages they speak, their health beliefs, and how they view education, work, and family roles.
By using the culturagram, social workers can create support plans that are more respectful, personalized, and effective. It’s a way to connect with families not just as clients, but as people with unique stories, values, and hopes for the future.
Components of the Culturagram
The culturagram looks at different parts of a family’s life to help social workers understand how culture shapes their experiences, values, and needs. Here’s a breakdown of each area it covers:
1. Contact with cultural and religious institutions, holidays, food, and clothing
This area looks at how connected a family is to their cultural and religious practices. It includes participation in religious or community institutions, the celebration of traditional holidays, and preferences around food and clothing. These elements can play a key role in maintaining cultural identity and emotional well-being.
2. Health beliefs and access to health care
Families often have different beliefs about what causes illness and how it should be treated. Some may rely on traditional remedies or may have limited trust in modern healthcare systems. This component also considers whether the family has adequate access to health services, which can affect how they manage physical and mental health.
3. Impact of trauma and crisis events
This includes any past experiences that may have caused significant stress or harm—such as war, natural disasters, forced migration, or family separation. Recognizing the effects of trauma is essential to understanding a family’s behavior, needs, and coping strategies.
4. Language spoken at home and in the community
This looks at what languages are used in different contexts. It helps identify potential communication challenges and understand how language affects relationships within the family and with the wider community.
5. Legal status
This refers to the family’s immigration or residency status. Legal uncertainties can limit access to jobs, healthcare, or education, and may increase stress or fear. It’s important to approach this area with care and without assumptions.
6. Oppression, discrimination, bias, and racism
Some families may face unfair treatment based on their race, ethnicity, language, or cultural background. These experiences can shape how they interact with institutions, including schools, healthcare providers, and social services.
7. Reasons for relocation
Understanding why a family moved—whether by choice or necessity—can reveal a lot about their current situation. Their reasons may include seeking safety, employment, education, or reunification with family.
8. Time in community
This considers how long the family has lived in their current area. Families who are new to a community may still be adjusting, while those who have been there longer might have more established support networks.
9. Values about education and work
Different cultures place varying levels of importance on formal education and types of work. This area helps professionals understand the family’s expectations, priorities, and goals in relation to school and employment.
10. Values about family—structure, power, myths, and rules
This explores how the family is organized and what roles each member plays. It looks at who holds authority, how decisions are made, and what beliefs or traditions are passed down through generations.
How to Create a Culturagram
Follow these steps to create a comprehensive culturagram that improves understanding and supports culturally responsive practice.
Step 1: Prepare for the assessment
Before creating a culturagram, it’s crucial to understand its purpose gaining insights into the cultural factors that shape a family’s life. This involves exploring their background, values, and traditions. Ensure the family is comfortable with the process, explain its purpose clearly, and always obtain informed consent before beginning the assessment.
Step 2: Gather information
After obtaining consent, begin collecting information through open-ended, meaningful conversations guided by the ten key components of the culturagram such as reasons for relocation, legal status, trauma, language, health beliefs, and family dynamics. Focus on listening closely to understand the cultural context that shapes the family’s experiences and perspectives.
Step 3: Document the information
Once you’ve gathered the information, organize it into a clear, visual diagram with the family’s name at the center and sections for each of the ten cultural components. Summarize key insights in each area and use symbols, colors, or lines to highlight relationships or patterns. The completed culturagram serves as both a visual reference and a tool for ongoing discussion and analysis.
Step 4: Analyze and interpret
After completing the culturagram, analyze the information to identify patterns, strengths, and areas where support may be needed. Consider how cultural beliefs influence the family’s views on education, work, and roles. Thoughtful interpretation helps build trust and ensures your support is culturally relevant and meaningful.
Step 5: Apply insights to practice
Use the insights from the culturagram to guide culturally responsive practice. Tailor interventions to align with the family’s values and needs, ensuring your support respects their cultural context. Collaborate with the family, actively involving them in decision-making and integrating their perspectives into all solutions.
Step 6: Review and update
Because families change over time, it’s important to regularly update the culturagram with new information. This ensures your support remains relevant and responsive. Ongoing reflection on how the culturagram enhances your understanding also helps strengthen your cultural competence and professional practice.
Culturagram Examples
In this section, you’ll find templates and examples to help you use the culturagram in your practice. Each culturagram template will give you a clear idea of how to apply the tool and capture important cultural details in your work with families and individuals.
Culturagram
Culturagram - Perez Family
Social work Case Example Culturagram
Culturagram Example
Culturagram swk101
Culturagram Questions
These culturagram questions are designed to guide your exploration of each category when creating a Culturagram, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of a family’s unique experiences and challenges.
1. Contact with cultural and religious institutions
- What cultural or religious institutions are important to the family (e.g., church, mosque, temple, community centers)?
- How often does the family participate in religious or cultural events?
- What role do these institutions play in the family’s life (e.g., spiritual guidance, community support)?
2. Holidays, food, and clothing
- What cultural or religious holidays does the family celebrate?
- Are there any special foods or meals that are important to the family’s traditions?
- Does the family follow any specific dress codes or clothing traditions based on culture or religion?
3. Health beliefs and access to health care
- How does the family view health and wellness (e.g., holistic health, medical professionals, home remedies)?
- Are there any traditional or cultural health practices that the family follows (e.g., herbal medicine, acupuncture)?
- Does the family face any barriers to accessing health care (e.g., language, lack of insurance, unfamiliarity with the healthcare system)?
4. Impact of trauma and crisis events
- Has the family experienced any traumatic events (e.g., war, violence, natural disasters)?
- How have these events affected the family’s emotional and physical well-being?
- How does the family cope with crises (e.g., seeking therapy, relying on community support, internalizing pain)?
5. Language spoken at home and in the community
- What language(s) does the family speak at home?
- Does the family feel comfortable communicating in the language of the community, or are there language barriers?
- Are there any generational differences in language use (e.g., younger members speaking more English, older members primarily speaking their native language)?
6. Legal status
- What is the family’s legal status (e.g., U.S. citizen, permanent resident, undocumented)?
- Does the family face any challenges related to their legal status (e.g., fear of deportation, legal limitations on work or benefits)?
- How does the family feel about their legal status, and how does it impact their daily life?
7. Oppression, discrimination, bias, and racism
- Has the family faced experiences of oppression, discrimination, or racism (e.g., based on ethnicity, nationality, immigration status)?
- How does the family respond to or cope with discrimination or bias (e.g., activism, avoidance, internalized oppression)?
- Are there any specific instances of discrimination that have had a lasting impact on the family?
8. Reasons for relocation
- Why did the family move to the current location (e.g., for better opportunities, fleeing conflict, following family)?
- How does the family feel about their relocation (e.g., excited, homesick, stressed)?
- How has the relocation affected the family’s sense of identity and belonging?
9. Time in community
- How long has the family been in the current community?
- What is the family’s relationship with the local community (e.g., isolated, integrated, active in community events)?
- Are there any challenges the family faces in adjusting to the community or forming connections?
10. Values about education and work
- How does the family view education (e.g., importance of academic success, access to educational opportunities)?
- What are the family’s values regarding work (e.g., work ethic, types of jobs valued)?
- Are there any cultural factors influencing educational or career choices (e.g., gender roles, family expectations)?
11. Values about family (structure, power, myths, and rules)
- What are the family’s values about family structure (e.g., hierarchical, egalitarian)?
- How is power distributed in the family (e.g., one parent making decisions, shared decision-making)?
- Are there any myths, beliefs, or rules that guide the family (e.g., “family comes first,” “respect for elders,” “children should be seen and not heard”)?
When to Use a Culturagram
The culturagram is a versatile tool that can be employed in various contexts to deepen understanding of cultural influences on families.
Working with immigrant and refugee families - The culturagram is especially useful when working with immigrant or refugee families, as it helps explore their migration experiences, cultural practices, and past traumas. This understanding enables professionals to offer more empathetic, informed, and culturally sensitive support.
2. Assessing cultural influences in family dynamics - The culturagram helps practitioners understand diverse family structures, roles, and cultural norms, including hierarchy and decision-making. This insight is essential for addressing family conflict, parenting approaches, and intergenerational differences in a culturally sensitive way.
3. Enhancing Cultural Competence in Service Delivery - In culturally diverse settings, the culturagram enhances cultural competence by helping professionals examine language, religion, and experiences with discrimination. This enables tailored, sensitive approaches that better meet each family’s unique needs.
4. Educational and training purposes - For social work students and trainees, the culturagram is a valuable educational tool that builds skills in cultural assessment and raises awareness of working with diverse populations. It helps learners understand the importance of cultural sensitivity in professional practice.
5. Planning interventions and support services - The culturagram offers essential insights into a family’s cultural context, helping design interventions and support plans that are respectful and relevant to their values and practices—leading to more effective outcomes.
Benefits and Limitations of the Culturagram
The culturagram is a valuable tool for gaining insight into a family’s cultural background, promoting individualized care, and enhancing cultural competence among professionals. However, it’s also important to be aware of its limitations and use it as part of a broader, comprehensive assessment strategy.
| Benefits of the Culturagram | Limitations of the Culturagram |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive cultural insight: Offers a structured, holistic view of a family’s cultural identity, including language, values, and health beliefs. | Time-intensive process: Requires significant time and may not be practical in fast-paced settings. |
| Individualized assessment: Focuses on each family’s unique experiences, avoiding cultural generalizations and stereotypes. | Dependence on accurate information: Incomplete or withheld details can reduce the accuracy of the assessment. |
| Enhanced communication: Encourages open dialogue and trust between professionals and families through shared cultural stories. | Potential for misinterpretation: Lack of training may lead to misunderstanding of cultural nuances. |
| Informed intervention planning: Supports culturally sensitive planning tailored to each family’s context and needs. | Risk of oversimplification: May not fully capture complex cultural dynamics; best used as a starting point. |
| Educational tool for practitioners: Helps students and professionals build cultural competence through practical application. | Not a standalone solution: Should be complemented with other assessment tools and professional judgment. |
Culturagram vs Genogram vs Ecomap
Each of these three tools the culturagram, genogram, and ecomap helps social workers understand families more deeply. But they each focus on different aspects of a person or family’s life. Knowing how they compare helps you choose the right one for the situation or use them together for a more complete picture.
| Culturagram | Genogram | Ecomap |
|---|---|---|
| Focuses on cultural background and its influence on daily life. Looks at origin, migration, language, health beliefs, education, work, and trauma. | Maps family structure and history across generations. Shows relationships, behavioral patterns, emotional ties, health issues, and life events. | Explores connections between the family and external systems like school, work, healthcare, religion, and friends—highlighting support or stressors. |
| Used by social workers to build culturally sensitive intervention plans and foster respectful connections with families. | Used to analyze family dynamics and inherited traits that may impact current issues. | Used to evaluate support networks, resource gaps, and external stress for a family. Helps in assessing environmental influences on wellbeing. |
| Often takes the form of a chart with cultural dimensions (e.g., language, values, immigration experiences). | Visualized like a family tree, but richer—includes symbols for emotional bonds, health conditions, and family roles across generations. | Drawn as a central individual/family with lines extending to external entities, showing the quality of each relationship. |
| Focus: Explores cultural identity and values that shape daily decisions and family life. | Focus: Helps understand how the past influences the present through familial roles, patterns, and history. | Focus: Assesses how a family is supported or challenged by its environment and social networks. |
| Use in Practice: Enables tailoring interventions to specific cultural contexts. | Use in Practice: Identifies intergenerational patterns that impact current behavior or issues. | Use in Practice: Helps professionals identify resource gaps and stress points in a family’s environment. |
| Why Use Together: Adds cultural depth to genogram and ecomap findings—explaining why certain patterns or reactions may exist. | Why Use Together: Offers historical and relational context, complementing cultural and environmental insights. | Why Use Together: Clarifies current influences and support systems, enriching the understanding from the culturagram and genogram. |
References
Yeshiva University (2021). Practical Applications of the Culturagram to Social Work. [online] Yeshiva. Available at: https://online.yu.edu/wurzweiler/blog/practical-applications-culturagram-social-work.
Congress, E.P. and Kung, W.W. (2021). Using the Culturagram and an Intersectional Approach in Practice With Culturally Diverse Families. [online] connect.springerpub.com. Springer Publishing Company. Available at: https://connect.springerpub.com/content/book/978-0-8261-5415-6/part/part01/chapter/ch01.
Social Work. (2019). Culturagrams. [online] Available at: https://socialworkculturagram.weebly.com/culturagrams.html.
Congress, E.P. (1994). The Use of Culturagrams to Assess and Empower Culturally Diverse Families. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 75(9), pp.531–540. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/104438949407500901.
FAQs About the Culturagram
Does using a culturagram require special training?
Can I update a culturagram over time?
Is the culturagram only used in social work?
Can I use a culturagram with individuals as well as families?
Can the culturagram help identify cultural strengths?
How can the culturagram improve client relationships?
Can the culturagram be used for families in crisis?
What’s the difference between a culturagram and a genogram?
