Upon completion of this chapter, the reader will understand:

• the transactional and situational nature of cultural identity
  
  
• the sociocultural factors that shape the way individuals and families live, how they identify themselves, and how they wish to be identified
  
  
• steps in the service delivery process, from beginning contact with families to implementation and evaluation of services
  
  
• the service provider’s role in enhancing interactions with families through sensitivity and awareness of variability across families and cultures, especially in the areas of child rearing, health care, and communication