Cultural Competency
The populations served by Title X grantees in Region
I are ethnically, linguistically, and culturally diverse. Their customs
and beliefs will influence their health seeking behaviors and their
response to health and social services. By working with diverse communities,
JSI has learned that cultural values and traditions, though different
in each community, offer special strengths that should guide health
care messages, treatments and social services. Understanding these
differences and tailoring services to be sensitive to the different
needs within a community are fundamental to culturally component service
delivery. Sensitivity training, multiculturalism workshops, and group
building activities can all help providers improve their cultural
competence.
When providing services to cultural diverse and underserved
communities, health care and social services providers must keep in
mind that they are dealing with many cultures, values, and world views.
The role of culture cannot be emphasized enough. Culture may not only
be the glue that holds a group together, it can also be their stressor
in trying to adapt to new surroundings without losing their identity
or sense of self worth (Hattar & Meleis, 1995). Despite national
efforts set forth by Healthy People 2000 and Healthy People 2010,
disparities in the health status of certain minority groups remain,
and in some cases it has worsened. These disparities suggest that
a systematic and more focused effort is needed to train minority,
health and social services providers to work in minority communities
to provide cultural competent services.
The 1989 monograph entitled "Toward a Culturally
Competent System of Care", defined culture competence as a set
of behaviors, attitudes, and policies that enable a system, agency
or group of professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural situations.
The most basic aspect of cultural competence relates to the provision
of services that are culturally sensitive and language appropriate.
Lack of health care and social services access is most commonly the
result of language barriers. Culturally competent services, however,
go beyond mere language interpretation. It requires a concerted effort
to select, train, and support key staff who can bridge the gap between
underserved communities, service providers and institutions.
Download the Region I Title
X Integrating HIV Prevention and Family Planning Services: An Organizational
Self-Assesment Manual, Chapter on Cultural Competency
