Cultural Competence

Arsenal Tech High School, Indianapolis

Values
Worth, excellence, or degree of worth when describing an object, activity or class of something

What is culture?
The characteristic of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, values, customs, courtesies, rituals, manners of interacting, roles, relationships, religion, cuisine, music, and arts Set of rules and norms that promote stability and harmony within a society

Conduct a Self-Assessment
On your own, take five minutes to do the following: Explore values, beliefs, and attitudes about your culture and others

Why does culture matter?

When culture is ignored, families and students are at risk of not getting the support they need, or worse yet, receiving assistance that is more harmful than helpful.

Context and Meaning of

Culture
It is a filer that individuals use to process their experiences and events in their lives It influences peoples values, actions, and expectations It impacts peoples perceptions and expectations of others

Ethnic/Ethnicity
Groups of people believed to be biologically related Members of this group share unique social and cultural heritage

Diversity
A wide range of interests and backgrounds Differences among groups of people and individuals based on ethnicity, race, socio-economic status, gender, language, religion, sexual orientation, and geographical area

Cultural Competence
A set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals and enables that system, agency, school, or those professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural situations

Cultural Competence
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 The ability to think, feel, and act in ways that acknowledge, respect, and build upon ethnic, socio-cultural, and linguistic diversity

Cultural Competence vs. Cultural Awareness

Cultural competence: the ability to effectively operate within different cultural contexts

Cultural awareness: Sensitivity and understanding toward members of other ethnic groups

Cultural Competence Acknowledges the Importance of

Culture Assessment of cross-cultural interactions Attentive toward the dynamics resulting from cultural differences Expansion of cultural knowledge Adaptation to meet culturally unique needs

Group Discussion
Break off into groups of four In your groups discuss how you and your school could acquire cultural competence Create a list to share with the whole group

Acquiring Cultural Competence

Recognize the dimensions of culture Respect families as the primary source for defining needs and priorities Increase sensitivity to alienating behaviors

Acquiring Cultural Competence

Change decision-making processes to include families and community Commit to structural and policy changes that support cultural diversity Make policies and practices fluid to accommodate necessary adjustments

How to Move Towards Cultural Competence

Attitudes must change to become less ethnocentric and biased Policies must change to become more flexible and culturally impartial Practice must become more congruent with cultures

Value Diversity
Create an environment in which people feel safe to express culturally based values, perceptions, and experiences Host social events at which music, food, and entertainment reflect cultures represented at your school Hire staff and leaders who reflect the communitys cultural diversity Partner with cultural organizations and institutions

Reference
California State University Northridge (2004). Cultural competency. [Powerpoint slides] Retrieved from http://www.csun.edu/ ~hchsc006/cultural%20competency 2.ppt