|
Cultural Competency is the recognition that services
need to be developed or changed to fit the beliefs and
values of culturally diverse populations. Culture includes
race, ethnicity, language, religious background, sexual
orientation, neighborhood, or any other social group that
impacts our view of the world. Mental health and substance
abuse services that are culturally competent result in better
services. The Evidence-Based Practice Grant will help ensure
that new services are provided in culturally appropriate ways by:
-
Getting community input before new services are even started,
-
Adapting standard service models to meet Hawai‘i’s diverse needs,
-
Ensuring access to interpreters and bilingual services,
-
Training staff on the importance of cultural competency.
Cultural Competency is defined by the US Department of Health and Human Services as:
|
“Attaining the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to enable administrators and practitioners within systems of care to provide effective care for diverse populations.” This means that it is important for health care professionals to fully understand unique culturally beliefs and values so that they can adapt health care services to fit the lives of all people.
|
Culture includes race, ethnicity, language, religious background, sexual orientation, country of origin, physical ability or any other aspect that impacts one’s customs, beliefs, and values.
Culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services eliminate disparities in mental health care services by:
-
Responding to the Needs of Hawaii’s Diverse Population
-
Eliminating Disparities in Access and Utilization of Mental Health Services
-
Improving Quality of Services and Outcomes
-
Meeting Legislative, Regulatory, and Accreditation Mandates
-
Gaining a Competitive Edge in Market Place
-
Decreasing the Likelihood of Liability/Malpractice Claims
The Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Project incorporates cultural competency in all stages of the project. The project is firmly grounded in the belief that services need to be developed or adapted to fit the beliefs and values of Hawaii’s diverse populations. The Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Project will ensure that culturally appropriate mental health and substance abuse services are provided in the following ways:
-
Development of a Multicultural Advisory Committee for the EBP Grant Initiative and ensuring representation of consumers, staff, and family member from each of the service sites.
-
Ensuring the incorporation of cultural competency into all aspects of the grant initiative
-
Adapting standard service models to meet Hawaii’s unique needs
-
Working to have bilingual services and interpreters available
-
Training staff about the importance of cultural competency and methods for incorporating cultural competency into their everyday business
In addition, community mental health centers in Kauai (Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment) and Waianae (Illness Management and Recovery) will modify the standard EBP protocol to improve the cultural competency of services in these communities. Modifications will be determined by the communities to ensure consistency with local norms and values. Data from the culturally modified sites will be compared to data from sites implementing the standard protocol, in order to determine the critical elements for providing culturally competent evidence based practice.
Cultural competency is important to consider throughout the course of treatment.
This includes:
|
1)
|
The use of culturally appropriate Assessment strategies (e.g., instruments, culture-bound syndromes, cultural norms and values, linguistic)
|
|
2)
|
The use of culturally informed and qualified interpreters
|
|
3)
|
Consideration of the consumer’s concept of mental illness in Treatment Planning
|
|
4)
|
Use of culturally appropriate Treatment Strategies and Referrals
|
|
5)
|
Engaging in ongoing evaluation of consumer and self
|
|
6)
|
Consider culture during Discharge Planning and Termination
|
Eliminating Barriers to Service = Better Access = Fewer Mental Health Disparities
Services must be received AND accepted to be successful
Dollars = Sustainability
Communication = Better service delivery = Fewer lawsuits
National Center for Cultural Competence, Georgetown University Child Development Center
www.georgetown.edu/research/gucdc/nccc/index.html
SAMHSA's Culture and Ethnicity Information
www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/topics/explore/culture
|
