According to the National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC):
- have a defined set of values and principles, and demonstrate behaviors, attitudes, policies and structures that enable them to work effectively cross-culturally.
- have the capacity to (1) value diversity, (2) conduct self-assessment, (3) manage the dynamics of difference, (4) acquire and institutionalize cultural knowledge and (5) adapt to diversity and the cultural contexts of the communities they serve.
- incorporate the above in all aspects of policy making, administration, practice, service delivery and involve systematically consumers, key stakeholders and communities.
Cultural competence is a developmental process that evolves over an extended period. Both individuals and organizations are at various levels of awareness, knowledge and skills along the cultural competence continuum. (adapted from Cross et al., 1989)
A component of cultural competence is linguistic competence, the capacity of an organization and its personnel to communicate effectively, and convey information in a manner that is easily understood by diverse audiences including persons of limited English proficiency, those who are not literate or have low literacy skills, and individuals with disabilities. (Source: Good & Jones, Definition of Linguistic Competence, National Center for Cultural Competence, Revised 2004).
National Center for Cultural Competency
Georgetown University Center for Child & Human Development
3300 Whitehaven Street, NW, Suite 3300
Washington, DC 20007
Voice: (202) 687-5387 or (800) 788-2066 TTY: (202) 687-5503
Fax: (202) 687-8899
E-mail: cultural@georgetown.edu
Diversity and Disability
"Culture and Disabilty is a groundbreaking work on persons with disabilities from diverse immigrant backgrounds. It is a pioneering and practical volume dealing with topics that have been too long ignored. Using a 'cultural broker' model and written by individuals who have emigrated to the U.S. from countries such as China, Korea, Jamaica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, Providing Cultural Competent Disability Services contains concrete examples, case studies, and recommendations that will help rehabilitation practitioners in their day-to-day activities. Providing Cultural Competent Disability Service also serves as an excellent supplemental text for undergraduate and graduate programs in rehabilitation and related disciplines." -Paul Leung, Ph.D., CRC, University of North Texas
CIRRIE facilitates the sharing of information and expertise in rehabilitation research between the U.S. and other countries through a wide range of programs.
CIRRIE Monograph Series (John Stone Editor, University of Buffalo, Copyright 2003). "The Rehabilitation Provider's Guide to Cultures of the Foreign-Born"
The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down, (Anne Fadiman)
A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures
Reviews
"Ms. Fadiman tells her story with a novelist's grace, playing the role of cultural broker, comprehending those who do not comprehend each other and perceiving what might have been done or said to make the outcome different." --Richard Bernstein, The New York Times
To your on-line bookmark site, add "Cultural Competency". (What's this?)
