PBH Cultural Competence

Cultural Competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professional and enables this system, agency or those professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural situations. Competence implies having the capacity to function effectively as an individual and an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by consumers and their communities.

Cross, T.L., Bazron, B.J., Dennis, K.W., Isaacs, M. (1989). “Towards a Culturally Competent System of Care”, Volume I Washington, DC: Georgetown University Child Development Center, CASSP Technical Assistance Center.)

Communities in America are becoming more culturally diverse. Current projections suggest that by 2025, racial and ethnic minorities will account for more than 40% of all Americans. Lack of awareness of cultural differences can affect the prevention, identification, and treatment of many mental health problems.

(New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America. Final Report. DHHS Pub. No. SMA-03-3832. Rockville, MD: 2003).

This is a continuum that helps one understand the process of becoming culturally competent. There are six points along the continuum. They are cultural destructiveness, cultural incapacity, cultural blindness, cultural pre-competence, cultural competence, and cultural proficiency. These are all possible ways of responding to cultural differences. To lean more, visit the website below.

http://www.med.umich.edu/multicultural/ccp/basic.htm#continuum

4. Who are the most recognized racial & ethnic minorities in the United States?

The four most recognized racial and ethnic minority groups according to United States Federal classifications are African American, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and White Americans. Hispanic American.

(Latino) is an ethnicity and may apply to a person of any race (U.S. Office of Management and Budget, OMB, 1978)

5. What are some of the disparities that are found in mental health care for racial and ethnic minorities?

According to Mental Health: Culture, Race and Ethnicity, A Supplement to the Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health,

Minorities have less access to mental health services,
Minorities are less likely to receive needed mental health services,
Minorities in treatment often receive a poorer quality of mental health care, and
Minorities are underrepresented in mental health research.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the Policy on the Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination as it Affects Persons with Limited English Proficiency.

Section 601 of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. Section 2000d et. seq. states: “No person in the United States shall on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Our nation has become increasingly diverse. The demographics of the United States have changed significantly over the past several years. Becoming culturally competent allows an agency to respond in culturally sensitive ways to the prevention, identification, and treatment of mental health issues in culturally diverse communities. Therefore, the services that minorities receive are responsive to their needs.

Cultural Competence enables an organization to serve all clients better; thus, everyone benefits.
Cultural Competence is a long – term developmental process.
Cultural Competence calls for true, fundamental institutional change.
Cultural Competence helps reduce agency risk, liability, and the cost of service delivery.
Cultural Competence can be learned.

Hernandez, M., & Isaacs, M.R. (Eds.) Promoting cultural competence in children’s mental health services (pages 29-45). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. www.Brookespublishing.com

Assessing the cultural competence of your agency can be done through a self –assessment process. An agency may also choose to work with a consultant in the field of cultural competence to assist in the process.