1. The Significance of Cultural Competence & Culturally Responsive Practices in Education
Dr. Vivian Stith-Williams
Virginia Department of Education
August 4, 2009

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE Introductions Warm-up Activities
Cultural Diversity Bingo
Rationale for Cultural Competency Training
Definition of Terms
Cultural Competence Model
Cultural Competence Continuum
Pedersen’s Developmental Model
Privilege Exercise statements
Culturally Responsive Practices
Policies, Practices, and Procedures
Checklist for Success

3. Rationale for Cultural Competency Training
Demographic Shifts in Population
Culture Influences All Aspects of One’s Environment
Teacher vs. Student Composition
Limited Preparation in Educating a More Diverse Student Population

4. Deepen understanding and increased sensitivity
Consideration as to what extent you perceive yourselves
to be culturally competent
Gain a Greater Appreciation of Diversity Issues
Ethical Responsibility

5. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
CULTURE- Learned traditions, principles and guides of behavior that are shared among members of a particular group.
Codes of behavior, values, and norms, beliefs, customs, communications or “the way we do things here”. Art, music, food, literature, and clothing are all visible aspects of culture.
Ethnic groups have cultures
Businesses have cultures
Neighborhoods have cultures.
It is dynamic and changes over time.
There is diversity within cultures.
Each person is a member of many cultures!

6. Culture
You continually construct from history, circumstance, family and community…

7. Iceberg Concept of Culture Weaver (1986)

8. CULTURAL COMPETENCY- It is the integration and transformation of knowledge about individuals and groups of people into specific standards, policies, practices and attitudes used in appropriate cultural
settings to increase the quality of services, thereby producing better outcomes
In the school setting, it involves the ability to acquire
knowledge of education-related beliefs, attitudes
and practices to improve student achievement.
It is a developmental process occurring along
a continuum from cultural destructiveness to
cultural incapacity to cultural blindness to
cultural pre-competence to cultural competence
to cultural proficiency.

9. Definitions continued
Cultural Proficiency – knowing how to learn and teach about
different groups in ways that acknowledge and honor all people and the groups they represent.
Ethnicity – groups in which members share a cultural heritage from one generation to another; one’s geographical origin, group image and a sense of identity derived from contemporary cultural patterns and a sense of history. Many people are of multiple ethnicities.
Race - a classification system based on physical characteristics and generalized conceptions of skin color. A political and social construct that is most often important in societies with a history of oppressing
specific groups.
Racial Identity – one’s sense of group identity or
affiliation and association with others who possess the same racial heritage.

10. Ethnicity
You identify with

11. RACE
You are classified as

12. Many terms to describe the work and concept
Culturally relevant Culturally aware
Culturally & Linguistically Competent
Culturally Appropriate Cultural sensitivity
Culturally Competent Culturally Proficiency
Multicultural Competence
Culturally Effective
Cultural Humility
Linguistically Competent

13. Mason et al.’s Cultural Competence Model (1996)
Cultural Destructiveness
Refusal to acknowledge the presence or importance of cultural differences; Differences are punished and suppressed; Schools endorse the myth of universality.
Cultural Incapacity
The individual or organization chooses to ignore cultural differences; No attention is devoted to supporting cultural differences; Emphasis may be on the cognitive growth and maturity of youngsters versus addressing the issues of cultural awareness.
Cultural Blindness
Individuals and organizations believe that cultural differences are of little importance; People are viewed through a western cultural mainstream lens; Messages are communicated to students that their culture is of little consequence to the learning experience.
Cultural Pre-Competence
The individual or organization recognizes and
responds to cultural differences; There is an open
acknowledgement of the need for cultural
competence; Educators may seek out new
information regarding diversity by attending
training sessions or interacting with those individuals
who have insider cultural information.
Cultural Competence
The individual and organization value and appreciate
cultural differences; Exploration of issues related to
equity, cultural history, knowledge, and social justice;
Students’ cultural experiences are valued and
integrated into the learning process.

14. The Cultural Proficiency Continuum
Cultural Destructiveness. See the difference, stomp it out. Negating, disparaging, or purging cultures that are different from your own.
Cultural Incapacity. See the difference, make it wrong. Elevating the superiority of your own cultural values and beliefs and suppressing those of cultures that are different from your own.
Cultural Blindness. See the difference, act as if you don’t. Acting as if the cultural differences you see do not matter, or not recognizing that there are differences among and between cultures.
Cultural Pre-competence. See the differences, respond
inadequately. Recognizing that lack of knowledge,
experience, and understanding of other cultures
limits your ability to effectively interact with them.
Competence. See the difference, understand the difference
that difference makes. Interacting with other cultural
groups in ways that recognize and value their differences.
Cultural Proficiency. See the difference and respond.
Honoring the differences among cultures, viewing diversity
as a benefit, and interacting knowledgeably and respectfully
among a variety of cultural groups.

15. Valuing Culture and Ethnicity
“People’s religion, culture, and ethnicity often are not just facts about them, but are central to their self-definitions. People are not just persons who happen to be Christians, women, or African Americans. These characteristics are not possessions, like clothing, that can be shed or changed at will. Instead, people are Christians, women, or African Americans. If so, then one reason that can be given for respecting
diversity is that to fail to do so is to reject
who people are. It is to deny their worth.
It does an especially insidious kind of
violence to them” (Strike, Haller & Soltis, 2005).

16. Pedersen’s Developmental Model
Awareness – consciousness of one’s own attitudes and biases as well as the sociopolitical issues that confront culturally different youngsters
Knowledge – accumulation of factual information about different cultural groups
Skills – integration of awareness competencies to positively impact children from culturally distinct groups
Attitude – belief that differences are valuable and
change is necessary and positive.
Each domain builds successively on the previous
one such that mastery of an earlier domain is
necessary before proceeding to subsequent domains.

17. Knowledge
Understands their own cultural heritage and acknowledges how it affects their values and assumptions.
Understands other worldviews and perspectives.
Understands how social change occurs.
Is familiar with the nature of institutional oppression and power.
Understands that there are unjust institutional barriers that exist for diverse groups.
Demonstrates a realization and understanding of
internalized oppression and its impact on identity
and self-esteem.
Understands how class, gender, race, etc.
affect individuals and their experiences.
Understands the ways that cultural differences
affect verbal and nonverbal communication and
the notion of personal space.

18. SKILLS Identify and openly discuss cultural differences and issues.
Gain respect of individuals who are culturally different themselves.
Challenge oppressive systems and serve as an ally to those being oppressed.
Use cultural knowledge and sensitivity to defend the rights and values of individuals and groups.
Accurately assess one’s own multicultural skills, comfort level, growth, and development.
Use verbal and non-verbal (body language) responses to communicate with diverse individuals and/or groups.
Resolve conflicts in culturally appropriate manner.
Use multiple viewpoints in problem-solving.
Employ critical thinking skills.

19. Attitude/Awareness
Believes that differences are valuable and that learning about others who are culturally different is necessary and rewarding.
Is open to change, and believes that change is necessary and positive.
Willing to self-examine and, when necessary, challenge and change their own values, worldview, assumptions and biases.
Is personally committed to justice, social change and combating oppression.
Accepts other worldviews and perspectives and are willing to acknowledge that, as individuals, they do not have all the answers.
Believes that cultural differences do not have to interfere with effective communication or meaningful relationships.

20. Five essential elements contribute to a system’s ability to become more culturally competent:
1. Valuing diversity
2. The capacity for cultural self-assessment
3. Consciousness of the “dynamics” inherent when culture
interact
4. Institutionalization of cultural knowledge
5. Developing adaptations to service delivery
reflecting and understanding between and
within cultures.
These five elements must be manifested in every level of
the service delivery system as reflected in attitudes,
policies, structures, and services.

21. Culturally Responsive Practices
Provide services that acknowledges that culture is central to learning and encouraging students and others to learn by building on the experiences, knowledge, and skills they bring to the classroom, group, office or meeting.
Service providers who are aware and respectful of the importance of the values, beliefs, traditions, customs, and parenting styles of the children and families they serve.
Educators and other staff who are also aware
of the impact of their own culture on their
interactions with others and take all of these
factors into account when planning and
delivering services to children and their families.

22. The Provision of Culturally Competent Services in the School Setting
At the Policymaking Level
Culturally competent policymakers:
appoint board members from the community so that voices from all groups of people within the community participate in decisions
actively recruit multiethnic and multiracial staff
provide ongoing staff training and support
developing cultural competence
develop, mandate, and promote standards
for culturally competent services
insist on evidence of cultural competency
when contracting for services

23. At the Policymaking Level
Culturally competent policymakers:
nurture and support new community-based multicultural programs
engage in or support research on cultural competency
support the inclusion of cultural competence on provider licensure and certification examinations
support the development of culturally appropriate
interview guides and assessment instruments for
psychological tests

24. At the Administrative Level
Culturally competent administrators:
Include cultural competency requirements in staff job descriptions and discuss the importance of cultural awareness and competency with potential employees
Ensure that all staff participate in regular, in-service cultural competency training
Promote programs that respect and incorporate cultural differences
Consider whether the facility’s physical plant, hours, and staffing are accessible and whether its physical appearance is respectful of different cultural groups.

25. At the Service Level Educators and related service personnel who are
culturally competent:
learn as much as they can about a student’s or family’s culture, while
recognizing the influence of their own background on their responses to cultural differences
include neighborhood and community outreach efforts and involve community cultural leaders if possible

26. At the Service Level continued
work within each student’s family structure, which may include grandparents, other relatives and friends
recognize, accept, and when appropriate, incorporate the role of community volunteers
understand the different expectations people may have about the way services are offered (for example, a period of social conversation may be necessary before each contact with a person; or access to a family may be gained only through an elder
adhere to traditions relating to gender and age that may play a part in certain cultures.

27. Cultural Competence Checklist for Success
Make the setting and environment more welcoming and attractive based on families’ cultural mores.
Avoid stereotyping and misapplication of scientific knowledge.
Include community input at the planning and development stage of projects.
Use educational approaches and materials that will capture the attention of your intended audience.
Find ways to partner with the community.

28. Cultural Competence Checklist for Success continued
Understand there is no recipe.
Hire staff that reflect the client population.
Understand cultural competency is continually
evolving.
Be creative in finding ways to communicate
with population groups that have limited
English-speaking proficiency.

29. Six Domains of Culturally Competent Service Delivery (Lopez, Rogers et al., 1999)
1.Legal and Ethical Issues
Knowledge of local, state and federal laws and regulations, awareness of litigation, and understanding of ethics
Advocate for public policy and educational law
2. School Culture, Educational Policy, and Institutional Advocacy
Knowledge of aspects of organizational culture that promote achievement and mental health for
culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students
Ability to play a leadership role in the implementation
of supportive interventions for CLD students and
their families

30. 3. Psychoeducational Assessment
Knowledge of and skills in assessing CLD students, including consideration of variables such as environment, social issues, language development, racism, second language acquisition, acculturation, educational history, quality of educational program, and SES
Understanding that normed tests may not be a valid measure for English Language Learners (ELLs) due to inappropriateness of norms, scores reflecting English proficiency, product as opposed to process orientation, fairness of content, and differences in educational background, acculturation and economic situation

31. 4. Academic, Therapeutic and Consultative Interventions
Skills in multicultural counseling and cross-cultural
consultation
Knowledge of multicultural education, ELL programs,
and school culture/culture of staff and students
5. Working with Interpreters
Knowledge of recommended systemic practices,
including guidelines from professional organizations and
national and state policies, and plans for hiring,
training and managing interpreters

32. Domains continued 6. Research
Knowledge of research related to culture and language issues and ability to conduct research that is sensitive to cross-cultural issues
Awareness of Emic-Etic distinctions (Emic: behaviors or views that are common to an ethnic or minority group; Etic: aspects of human functioning that are more universal to people across cultures).

33. Integration of Cultural Knowledge
The knowledge developed regarding culture and cultural
dynamics, must be integrated into every facet of a school,
program or agency. Staff must be trained, and effectively
utilize the knowledge gained.
Administrators should develop policies that are
responsive to cultural diversity. Program
materials should reflect positive images of
all people, and be valid for use with each
group. Fully integrated cultural knowledge
may affect global changes in human service
delivery.

34. For example, educational institutions and accreditation
bodies might develop cultural competence standards to
ensure teacher and administrator preparation. Then
these same professionals collaborate with families to
develop school policies that reinforce culturally familiar
values to improve children’s behavior.
Institutionalized cultural knowledge can enhance an
organization’s capacity.

35. The goal is to see cultural proficiency as a way to
understand, embrace, and talk about differences that
recognizes and respects individuals and their cultures.
Becoming culturally proficient means raising
awareness of and closing the gap between
a person’s expressed values and how he or
she is actually perceived and experienced
by clients, colleagues, and the community.

36. Next Steps! GET STARTED! Shift your thinking!
Focus on diversity and inclusion!
Consider the needs of tomorrow!
Define goals. Movement is not progress and progress is
not excellence!
Identify the components in your system
that are functioning well now!
Start there!
Have conversations about the issue, using
the cultural proficiency continuum!
Identify and Examine your barriers

37. “Cultural and linguistic competence is a life’s journey not a destination”!

38. REFERENCES
California Tomorrow, Cultural Competency: What is it and Why it Matters, December, 2006.
King, Mark A., Sims, Anthony, & Osher, David., How is Cultural Competence Integrated in Education?
Cross, T., Bazron, B., Dennis, K., & Isaacs, M., Towards a culturally competent system of care: A monograph on effective services from minority children who are severely emotionally
disturbed: Volume I.: Georgetown University
Child Development Center, 1989.
Goode, T.D., Jones, W., Dunne, C., & Bronheim, S And the journey continues… Achieving cultural and
linguistic competence in systems serving children and
youth with special health care needs and their families.
National Center for Cultural Competence, Georgetown
University Center for Child and Human Development, 2007.

39. Lindsey, R. , Roberts, L. , & Campbell-Jones, F
Lindsey, R., Roberts, L., & Campbell-Jones, F., The culturally proficient school: An implementation guide for school leaders. Corwin Press, 2005.
Keyes, Marian, Burns, Rebecca, Kusimo, Patricia, It Takes A School: Closing Achievement Gaps Through Culturally Responsive Schools, 2006.
Educational Leadership, Vol. 64, No.6, “Responding to Changing Demographics”, March 2007.
McIntosh, P. White privilege: Unpacking the Invisible knapsack. In Peace and Freedom, 1989.
National Association of School Psychologists,
Provision of Culturally Competent Services in
the School Setting, 2004.
Stiff-Williams, H.R., ”Increasing Teachers’ Cultural Competence to Promote Improved Student Performance, Conference Address, VDOE, 2006.
Lindsay, R., Robins, K., & Terrell R., Cultural Proficiency: A Manual for School Learners, 2003.

40. Various dimensions of culture!