Transcript National Indian Child Welfare Association

The Cultural Competence
Model
February 10 New Grantee Meeting
Washington DC
Andy Hunt, MSW
Captain, US Public Health Service
SAMHSA Project Officer
Workshop Objectives
1.
2.
3.
Understand and define the term “cultural
competence” and identify the five elements
of the Cultural Competence Model.
Increase awareness of one’s own culture
and your reactions to cultural differences.
Provide common understanding, language
and framework for the new CLC
Coordinators.
Session Outline
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Definition of “cultural competence” and
exploring concept of “culture”
Human needs and culture
Discussion on influences of culture in help
seeking and service provision
Distinction between “awareness” and
“competence”
Five Elements of Cultural Competence
Cultural Competence
The state of being capable of
functioning effectively in the context of
cultural differences.
(Cross, et. al)
The majority of the content of this presentation is adapted from
Cross, Bazron, Dennis and Isaacs, Toward a Culturally Competent
System of Care… 1989.
What is “culture”?
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Let’s brainstorm…
Webster’s definition of “culture”
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The integrated pattern of human knowledge,
belief, and behavior that depends upon
man's capacity for learning and transmitting
knowledge to succeeding generations
The customary beliefs, social forms, and
material traits of a racial, religious, or social
group
The set of shared attitudes, values, goals,
and practices that characterizes a company
or corporation
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Spirituality
Stories
Family &
parenting
Formal
laws/rules
Food
Housing
Ceremonies
Art, music, dance
Social activities
Religious institutions
Social rules
Clothing
Human Needs and Culture
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Practically speaking, “culture” can be viewed
as one group of people’s preferred way of
meeting their basic human needs
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Examples…
This has implications for providing services,
especially in system of care where the
community is culturally diverse
People tend to have a strong, if
unconscious, desire to for their core cultural
preferences to meet needs
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Trust in others from people “like me”
Desire for familiarity of surroundings
Potential Areas for a “cultural
bump” in Systems of Care
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Concepts of mental health, healing, help seeking,
and wellness belief systems
Perceptions and explanations of the causes of
problems with emotions, mental states, and
behavior in children and families
Behavior and coping strategies of family members
and their attitudes toward, and expectations of
professional helpers
Service delivery structure and process that may not
be congruent with the community’s preferences
Other examples…
Please discuss the following statement,
and how it relates to working with children
and families…
“Culture is to people as water is to fish”
What is the best treatment
for the common cold?
Do unto others??
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Example for discussion:
Chicken soup or Vicks VapoRub for your
sick friend?
If “programs and services” are set up with
the idea that everyone likes/needs Vicks
Vapor Rub when they have a cold…

What happens to those who like/need the
chicken soup remedy?
Awareness or Competence?

Awareness


having or showing
realization,
perception, or
knowledge
implies vigilance in
observing or
alertness in
drawing inferences
from what one
experiences
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Competence
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The state of being
competent
having the capacity
to function or
develop in a
particular way;
specifically: having
the capacity to
respond
Competence a Continuum of
ability and skills…
Cultural Competence
Continuum
Advanced Competence
Basic Competence
Pre-Competence
Blindness
Incapacity
Destructiveness
© 1989 Cross, et. al
Ongoing Cultural Competence
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Cultural competence clearly implies the
ability to take action, adapt and function in a
different environment
It is a commitment to a developmental
process - not a “check box” that you either
have or do not have
Elements should be integrated into all
aspects of program, policy and services and
not viewed as a separate component
Five Elements
of Cultural Competence
(at the Individual Level)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Awareness and acceptance of
difference
Awareness of own cultural values
Understanding and managing for the
“dynamics of difference”
Development of cultural knowledge
Ability to adapt practice to fit the
cultural context of the client/family
Five Elements
of Cultural Competence
(at the Organizational Level)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Values Diversity
Cultural Self Assessment
Manages the “dynamics of difference”
Institutionalizes cultural knowledge
Adaptation to diversity
The “Dynamics of Difference”
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What happens when people from two
cultures meet…each person interprets the
responses of others within the context of
his/her own cultural experience. This
interaction is affected by differences in:
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Language and communication style
Economic opportunity
Family configuration and kinship structures
How problems are defined or solved
Non-verbal communication
Political, historical influences
Examples…
Range of “Dynamics of Difference”
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Valuing Diversity
Understanding
Awareness
Idealism (Romanization)
Ethnocentrism
Prejudice
Bigotry
Racism
Institutional Racism
Genocide
Practical Suggestions
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Know what you don’t know…
Be open to learning through the act of
unintentionally offending members of a
cultural community different than your own
Find opportunities to get honest feedback by
developing relationships with cultural
brokers
Observe natural behavior of groups and
adapt practices and programs accordingly
Don’t think that you are “done” or have
“arrived” at cultural competence
Next Steps
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Use this model as a framework
Do a self assessment
Make a commitment to the process of
enhancing your cultural competence
Develop a plan for action
Share what you learned
Do something different
Thank You
The majority of the content of this presentation is adapted from:
Cross, Bazron, Dennis and Isaacs, Toward a Culturally Competent
System of Care… 1989.
For additional questions about this presentation contact:
CAPT Andy Hunt, MSW, LICSW
SAMHSA/CMHS
1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 6-1054
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone: 240-276-1926
Fax: 240-276-1930
[email protected]