Culturally Competent Workers & Programs

Culturally Competent Workers

• Invite those who are different from themselves to be their "cultural guides", where the guide is the teacher and the social worker is the student

• Learn as much as they can about an individual's or family's culture

• Recognize how their own background influences how they view others

• Work within each person's family structure, which may include grandparents, other relatives, and friends

• Recognize, accept, and, when appropriate, include the help of natural helpers, such as curanderos or shamans

• Respect traditions where gender and age may play an important role; for example, in many racial and ethnic groups, elders are highly respected

• Include cultural leaders in neighborhood outreach efforts

Culturally Competent Programs

• Accept and respect difference

• Expand cultural knowledge and resources

• Provide ongoing staff training about cultural competence

• Develop culture-related treatment philosophies

• Hire staff members who specialize in culturally competent practice

• Seek advice from the diverse communities served by the agency

• Appoint board members from the community so that voices from all groups of people within the community participate in decisions

• Actively recruit a racially and culturally diverse staff

• Actively recruit foster and adoptive parents from all groups in the community

• Support the development of culturally appropriate assessment instruments

• Insist on evidence of cultural competence when contracting for services

• Nurture and support new community-based multicultural programs; engage in and support research in cultural competence

• Make the program's location, hours, and staff accessible

• Make physical appearance respectful of different groups

• Include cultural competence requirements in staff job descriptions

Source

Cross, T., Dennis, K., Isaacs, M., & Bazron, B. (1989). Toward a culturally competent system of care [monograph]. National Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health [Online], <http//:www.mentalhealth.org/child/cultcomp.htm> . (Web address no longer functional.)