What is Cultural Competence?
A congruent set of behaviors, attitudes, and policies that enable a person or group to work effectively in cross-cultural situations; the process by which individuals and systems respond respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, languages, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and other diversity factors in a manner that recognizes, affirms, and values the worth of individuals, families, and communities and protects and preserves the dignity of each.
Definition taken from ACRL (Association of College & Research Libraries)
Source: Caregiving Network
Our world is becoming more connected, and various cultures will interact more in our daily lives. Learn about Cultural Competence and join the discussion.
EthnoMed - An ethnic medicine website containing medical and cultural information about certain immigrant and refugee groups.
National Center for Cultural Competency - Georgetown University - A variety of resources on self-assessment, distance learning, publications, and more.
Cultural Competence Toolkit by the NC State University's Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity
Cultural Competence Check-Ins - Reflecting on oneself and one's practice, alongside assessing how workplace policies mirror broader systems and attitudes, is vital. Continuous self-checks offer valuable insights.
Culture Clues - Tips sheets for clinicians on different cultures for the University of Washington Medical Center.
Effective Communication Tools for Healthcare Professionals: Addressing Health Literacy, Cultural Competency, and Limited English Proficiency - A free, online, go-at-your-own-pace training to help health care professionals and students improve patient-provider communication.
MasterClass's Cross-Cultural Communication and Cultural Understanding - Challenge your perceptions with the MasterClass Annual Membership and take lessons on emotional intelligence.
Think Cultural Health (includes CLAS Standards) - CLAS stands for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services. These National Standards are intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities by establishing a blueprint for health and health care organizations.
Refugee Health Profiles - From the CDC website's section on Immigrant and Refugee Health. Includes health profiles of Bhutanese, Burmese, Minor Children from the Central Americas, Congolese, Iraqi, Somali, & Syrian cultures.
Self-Assessments from the National Center for Cultural Competence - Provides a variety of self-assessment tools, including a Cultural Competence Health Practitioner Assessment (CCHPA) and a Self-Assessment Checklist for Personnel Providing Primary Health Care Services.
Source: Ted
Dr. Martin shares the history of cultural competence, how we have lost the original vision of the concept, and methods to remedy this issue.
Cultural Competence in Nursing - NurseJournal is a guide offers tips from nursing professionals on incorporating it into nursing culture and practice
Cultural Competence An Important Skill Set for the 21st Century - University of Nebraska
In search of cultural competence - APA - Psychologists still know little about what constitutes good treatment for people of diverse cultures. But researchers are getting closer by taking a variety of scientific approaches, including studying cultural adaptations of proven treatments.
What Is Cultural Competence and Why Is It Important?
What is Cultural Competence and How to Develop It? - PennState - Develop cultural competency skills to enhance the ability to practice effective communication in intercultural situations.
When Twice as Good Isn’t Enough: The Case for Cultural Competence in Computing - This paper advocates cultural competence as essential in computing departments, ensuring graduates grasp DEI's importance, fostering diverse, inclusive environments, and retaining marginalized students.
When considering culture, it's crucial to recognize its multifaceted nature, as we are members of various cultural groups that influence our perspectives through lifelong learning and affiliations. The majority of culture operates beneath the surface, shaping our worldview in subtle yet profound ways.
From "Diversity and Inclusion" by Nova Scotia Health Authority, 2024. (https://library.nshealth.ca/DiversityandInclusion/Cultural#s-lg-box-15886896). Copyright 2024 by Nova Scotia Health Authority
