What Could Cultural Consultants Do For You?
They could serve as program assistants for presentations, cultural awareness, cultural meals and events, and similar activities with international or cross-cultural emphases. Raising Cultural Awareness
They could assist with cultural dinners in mental health residences and clubhouses. Celebrate Cultural Diversity
They could serve as academic resources for internationally related topics. For example, a student from Japan might serve as a consultant to staff members or teaching a course to staff augmenting available written literature on mental health practices and problems in Japan. Encourage & Value Cultural Knowledge
They could provide information to therapist and cultural competence technical advisors about educational resources in various counties other than their own. Culturally Prepared
They could enhance the learning of comparative, international, and cross-cultural awareness and about issues and concerns of international clients from refugee and immigrant populations. They could comment on foreign news events for local media. International Cultural Competence Concerns
Utilizing Cultural Consultants Cultural Consultants are a richly diverse group of students, members of the community or other professionals. The use of consultants in your agency will depend on several important factors:
1. State Division SA & MH Policy 2. Local SA & MH Policy 3. Availability of consultants 4. Need for consultants 5. Motivation (why do we need one) Utilizing Cultural Consultants
Cultural Consultant Level I: Ability: Able to provide basic assistance to clinicians in areas of culture, communication pattern, family dynamics, and interpersonal relationship. Knowledge: In depth understanding of a specific culture
Cultural Consultant Level II Ability: Able to assist clinicians to understand cultural meaning of behaviors and symptoms. Knowledge: Level I plus completion of orientation in mental health services and systems
Cultural Consultant Level III Ability: Able o assess, diagnose, develop treatment plan, and conduct treatment. Knowledge: Level II plus being a licensed clinician