Cultural Competency in Training and Workforce Development: Cultural elements to consider when developing culturally competent trainings & resources

What is cultural competence?  

Culture:  The thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups. -DHHS/OMH Definitions can sometimes seem so intellectual and overwhelming and “not fun”! Culture: the thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups.  Competence: Acquisition of knowledge, skills, and experience necessary for the development and implementation of services to different groups served. Cultural Sensitivity: An awareness of the nuances of one’s own and other cultures. Cultural Diversity: Differences in race, ethnicity, language, nationality, or religion among various groups within a community. A community is said to be culturally diverse if its residents include members of different groups.

Carnival: “Crop Over” Culture can be fun! 

Carnival: “Crop Over”

Competence:  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. -DHHS/OMH Culture: the thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups.  Competence: Acquisition of knowledge, skills, and experience necessary for the development and implementation of services to different groups served. Cultural Sensitivity: An awareness of the nuances of one’s own and other cultures. Cultural Diversity: Differences in race, ethnicity, language, nationality, or religion among various groups within a community. A community is said to be culturally diverse if its residents include members of different groups.

Cultural (and linguistic) competence in health:  A set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations.                                                    -DHHS/OMH                            

So… what is it? Acknowledging the similarities & differences amongst us, accepting them, and showing empathy in our interactions. -Me It is a way of living... Your best trainers won't be the ones who just turn on their "cultural competence" radar when in a training, but those that live life in this manner every day. It is a more genuine form of interaction with people. Showing empathy is putting yourself in that person's shoes and viewing things through their eyes. You might not agree on everything, but you try; to see what they see, and to understand why they see it.

"Affects how the giver gives, and how the receiver receives!" Why is it important? What does this statement mean to you; "Affects how the giver gives, and the ..." ? "Affects how the giver gives, and how the receiver receives!"

Culture and language may influence: Health, healing, and wellness belief systems How illness, disease, and their causes are perceived by the patient/consumer The behaviors of patients/consumers who are seeking health care and their attitudes toward health care providers The delivery of services by the provider who looks at the world through his or her own limited set of values, which can compromise access for patients from other cultures                                                                         -DHHS/OMH General African American mistrust of the US medical system. - Tuskegee - Baltimore (JHU) go in for flue, leave with amputated leg. - etc.

Culture defines: How health care information is received How rights and protections are exercised What is considered to be a health problem How symptoms and concerns about the problem are expressed Who should provide treatment for the problem What type of treatment should be given.                                                                                                                                                                                  -DHHS/OMH Health disparities

Stages of Developing Culturally Competent Products/Resources -Plan-Develop-Implement-

Planning Define your target audience Become more aware of the culture of your target audience Be aware of the dynamics that may occur when members of different cultures interact Assess your personal cultural values and perceptions of the world Planning phase, most important phase. All else rests on the work your do here. Some of these may seem foreign, but we do these on a daily basis already: “A person in recovery” may have a different connotation when speaking with the treatment community vs. the recovery community vs. the mental health community. Therefore it is imperative that you tailor your presentation/product for the right group!

Questions to ask: How will this training/resource be received? Is this training/resource actually considered to be of importance? How are concerns about this topic expressed? Who should provide the training/resource? What type of training/resource should be given? ...?                                                                                          Examples: Ask questions of community members at a focus group. Ask key shareholders: Partners Ask proposed speakers, consultants etc. Other questions: What are the cultural No Nos? Are there any language considerations to take into account? Should translations be in a certain dialect (e.g. Vari Example: Safe oral sex practices in youth. Issues - Kids don't view oral sex and sex, therefore it is safe -They might not see that there is an issue for concern to start with

Development Remember adult learning principles Utilize feedback from focus groups, conversations with shareholders etc. Use of consultants/contractors  Translations etc. Take into account cost-benefit limitations Bilingual trainer/products, TOTs, etc. Translations: Note the various Spanish dialects that a product could be translated to. Be cognizant of that fact!

Implementation Remember adult learning principles Utilize feedback from focus groups, conversations with shareholders etc. Assess the personal cultural values and perceptions of the trainer Use of consultants/contractors  Bilingual etc.

Trainer manual, CD and in-service training Cultural Elements in Treating Hispanic Populations: Dialogue on Science & Addiction A guide for addressing the treatment needs of Hispanics/Latinos with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug problems Training of Trainers Trainer manual, CD and in-service training Caribbean Basin & Hispanic ATTC For those of you looking for a information on the Hispanic/Latino community, the Caribbean Basin & Hispanic ATTC have a training and products available to provide with the necessary cultural knowledge to work with this community.

Contact Ryan R. Springer, MPH The Danya Institute/Central East ATTC Office: 240-645-1585 rspringer@danyainstitute.org www.nattc.org