Building Culturally Competent Organizations

What is culture? The shared traditions, beliefs, customs, history, folklore, and institutions of a group of people. Cultural knowledge- Knowing about a culture Cultural awareness- Understanding other groups Cultural sensitivity- Knowing differences exist, but not assigning values Cultural competence- Includes previous stages; adds operational effectiveness

What are the types of diversity in an organization? Ethnicity Gender Sexual orientation Social class Spiritual beliefs and practice Physical and mental ability

Why is it important to be culturally competent? Increased respect Increased creativity Decreased unwanted surprises Increased participation from cultural groups Increased trust and cooperation Overcome fear of mistakes and conflict Promotes inclusion and equality

When to become culturally competent: An organization needs to be culturally competent when there is: A problem or crisis A shared vision And a desired outcome An organization is ready when: Groups are identified Needs are identified Knows previous experiences Are open to learning and adapting

Action Steps for achieving cultural competence: Develop support for change Identify groups to be involved Identify barriers Assess current level of cultural competence Identify resources needed Develop goals, implementation steps and deadlines Commit to an ongoing evaluation process

How to begin building a multicultural organization: Form a committee Write a mission statement Research past experience; develop partnerships Use free resources Assess current cultural competence Ask about staff development needs Assign part of budget for staff/cultural development Include cultural competence in job description Ensure facility is accessible and respectful Collect resource materials

How to manage the dynamics: Establish a vision and context Recruit and outreach to community Sponsor diversity training Have organizational structure and operating procedures Use comfortable and respectful communication Understand "different, but similar" Maintain the commitment Provide strong leadership Provide activities