why is multicultural competence important?
Multicultural competence can be described as the ability to understand, appreciate and interact with people from cultures or belief systems different from ones own. After all, relationships are a powerful piece of what makes us human. As the nation becomes increasingly diverse, we expand our opportunity to build stronger relationships with different people. By creating a culturally sensitive work environment, all people should be able to work freely. Sometimes, our big world can feel smaller than it seems. Cultural competence has four major components: awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills. This paper is a reflection of the progress that I have made towards multicultural competence and avenues for future professional development in this skill. A willingness to learn about the cultural practices and worldview of others. According to the American Sociological Association, we understand culture as the languages, customs, beliefs, rules, arts, knowledge, and collective identities and memories developed by members of all social groups that make their social environments meaningful. Some of the areas that I feel that I need to develop my cultural competence include learning how to accommodate behaviors that I consider to be ignorant. A potential barrier to Multicultural Competence is personnel who remain willfully uninformed, uninterested, or resistant to learn about coworkers and clients cultural identities. Sometimes, our big world can feel smaller than it seems. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 10(1), 305-338. As a result, companies have to be intentional about providing equitable opportunities for all. If the analysis reveals that adolescents have the highest rate of broken appointments, the program can target specific strategies to this group. To Join the NPIN community Sign In or Join. That's the nature of our increasingly diverse and wonderful world. Say hello. Deliberate repetition of these components to account for new knowledge and additional exposure. Regardless of where you are in your journey to reach cultural competence, you can utilize these four strategies to help build your skills. The first step to enhancing the culture is to acknowledge the need for it. We would have to co-exist with social groups we dont understand, unable to navigate differing socioeconomic statuses and cultural barriers, or exercise respect, empathy, and consideration for the well-being of others. Act like you care, and when you begin to ask questions, people will believe you actually do. Here are a few examples that demonstrate its importance: Cultural competency is incredibly important in the field of medicine. Once you have an understanding of what cultures are present, try to take it one step further: understand the cultures on a deeper level. She delegated more work to them and to free up her time to be more embedded in strategy and planning. Therefore, a culturally competent society is also a socially competent one. BCT Partners is an organization dedicated to providing insights about diverse people that leads to equity. Cultural competence is necessary in every aspect of lifepersonal or professional. Unlike a degree or certificate that is achieved once, multicultural competence is a continuous, lifelong process of improvement and learning. BetterUps Inclusive Leadership Coaching Circles help professionals delve into these types of issues in small groups with peers, supported by an expert coach. Increasing your self-awareness helps you to also know when you would not be the best fit to work with a client. The good news today is that there are many additional resources for Human Services students to utilize in the search for information on diversity as well as the pursuit of cultural humility. Addressing biases is another. The Census Bureauestimates that in 2020 alone, international migration will add one person to the U.S. population every 34 seconds. First, my understanding of relevant terms has been expounded greatly. However, being aware of your biases is one thing. This can be done with the goal to understand the factors that may comprise or influence their identity: race, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, geographic location, immigration status, and more. Through knowledge of different healthcare practices in various cultures, ethnicities, and religions found across the world, the healthcare provider can develop a special relationship of mutual respect and understanding with the patient. As such, cultural competence is an integral component in this process. However, being in-tune with yourself and seeking advice from colleagues and supervisors leads to better-fit counseling relationships that holistically serve your clients. Leaders in both education and business are chiming in on the skills important in todays world and in the future. They can help make us feel like we belong, like we have something to contribute to this world. Dr. Cedric Williams is a Consulting Psychologist, Assistant Professor, & CEO of Legacy Consulting & Research Group. For more information, visit:
StudyCorgi, 5 Nov. 2020, studycorgi.com/multicultural-competence-importance/. Here are some examples of some demographics can make up your own culture and worldview. Unlike a degree or certificate that is achieved once, multicultural competence is a continuous, lifelong process of improvement and learning. Intercultural competence has the capacity to generate a sense of well-being and security for those who make the decision to experience it. Identify the possible problem caused by each control weakness. Another area that I need to develop is my mastery of the cultural norms that affect communication such as eye contact, gesturing, modes of greetings, and use of humor. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Meet the leadership that's passionate about empowering your workforce. Why is multicultural competence important? When pediatricians and public health practitioners Melanie Tervalon and Jann Murray-Garca introduced the concept of cultural humility to the fields of medicine and public health over 20 years ago, they catalyzed fascinating and continuing discourse on whether cultural humility is, in fact, more important than working to become competent in the New York, NY: Routledge. Counselors typically interact with a community of clients that represent a multitude of racial, cultural, demographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Its unfortunate that he had to suffer throughout his earlier years. A commitment to ongoing professional education is at the core of cultural sensitivity. You will never know everything; it is impossible. UK | Since the provider has taken into account the entirety of the patients background including language, religion, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, along with other social determinants of health, they have a better understanding of what the patient is likely to prefer in terms of healthcare. Transform your enterprise with the scalable mindsets, skills, & behavior change that drive performance. From the Health and Human Services Department's Office of Minority Health, The National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (CLAS) They give us reason to affect change and, more importantly, to bechanged. "Importance of the Multicultural Competence." With a vast amount of races, ethnicities, religions, beliefs, and values, future healthcare professionals must understand the need for cultural competence in healthcare facilities. Female and ethnic-minority CEOs at Fortune 500 companies have a major impact on business practices and diversity For example, African American and Hispanic populations tend to have different values and beliefs about diversity and equality than white populations. From the Office of Minority Health, Culture, Language, and Health Literacy Intercultural competence is a valuable asset in an increasingly globalised world where we And how can we use our cultural diversity to strengthen our bonds with diverse populations? Join other professionals on NPINs new social community to connect, share, and collaborate. As humans, we are social beings where social connections, and relationships are powerful parts of who we are. The part about self-critique is where most of us stumble. 
It is an internal transformation produced when skills are acquired in a new cultural environment with the intention of feeling good and being welcomed by others. Cultural competency matters when researching a concept of the social self. According to research from 2013, racial matching, or the shared race of a client and a mental health professional, can be used as an element of cultural competence This is the hidden bias that we may not be aware of, yet it influences our decisions and actions. Multicultural competency requires the following: A basic understanding of your own culture and ethnicity, A willingness to learn about the cultural practices and worldview of others, A positive attitude toward cultural differences, A willingness to accept and respect these differences. Breaching topics that can be potentially challenging is a critical leadership practice in many of our work environments. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, What's the Difference? Currently, cultural competency is utilized in a manner that does not explicitly favor technical clinical applications. The new quotient that we are measuring these days is the cultural quotient (CQ). StudyCorgi. 12.9% of the US population is comprised of foreign-born people, those who are not US citizens at birth(Census Bureau 2010). 1. Moreover, even though Census Bureau does not track religious affiliation, it is estimated that there are over 4,000 different religions practiced around the world; there are also at least 350 different languages currently spoken in this country(Census Bureau 2015). Teaching diversity exposes students to various cultural and social groups, preparing students to become better citizens in their communities. is a trusted 501(c)(3) non-profit WebCultural competence is the integration and transformation of knowledge about individuals and groups of people into specific standards, policies, practices, and attitudes used in (5), Cultural competence emphasizes the idea of effectively operating in different cultural contexts, and altering practices to reach different cultural groups. If you use an assignment from StudyCorgi website, it should be referenced accordingly. A potential barrier to Multicultural Competence is personnel who remain willfully uninformed, uninterested, or resistant to learn about coworkers and clients iStock by Getty Images, International brothers and. In the landscape of todays global economy, corporate and government agencies can expect to have employees and clients from numerous cultural backgrounds and varied cultural practices, needs, and expectations. Furthermore, keeping multicultural competence as a focus plays a greater role at the macro level in our communities. What is cultural competence, and why is it important? In a rapidly changing world, our cultural and interpersonal skills must be continuously refined through education and exposure to respond accordingly to cross-cultural situations. It is crucial to be aware of our own biases. 2020. As more healthcare workers become aware of the disparities that are prominent among minority groups, they are able to identify changes they can make to reduce those disparities. Join NPINs new social community to connect, share, and collaborate. When we accept ourselves and others for who they are without judgment, we are able to enjoy transparency and open communication. Cultural competence encourages the acknowledgement and acceptance of differences in appearance, behavior and The best way to grow in cultural competence is to immerse yourself in learning about other cultures. From the Office of Minority Health, A Physician's Practical Guide to Culturally Competent Care Social workers demonstrate an appreciation of their own cultural identities and those of others. All of these things color our perception of our interactions. Ultimately, this can help define our cultural identities. What are cultural competence skills? The parents believed that spiritsincluding evil spiritsare attracted to infants, and their absence kept that attention away from their baby. (1998) Cultural humility versus cultural competence: A critical distinction in defining physician training outcomes in multicultural education. For example, there are podcasts with personalities who offer different perspectives on the topic of race and encourage us to have uncomfortable conversations. We're on a mission to help everyone live with clarity, purpose, and passion. In addition, I am now confident about my ability to consider and recognize some of the historical biases and discriminations that have been subjected towards certain groups. Both individuals and organizations are at various levels of awareness, knowledge, and skills along the cultural competence continuum. Begin your journey as a mental health counselor by learning about the social justice-focused Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Redlands. You may work with co-workers everyday who live thousands of When interacting with others, it is important for those in the Human Services field to remember that we are looking through the lens of our own gender, race, economic background, religion, and sexual orientation and other lenses that color our perception of others. Clinical mental health counseling is a rewarding, albeit challenging, professional field that finds its firm foundation in the service of others. Additionally, cultural This concept does not dwell much on how cultural information is collected. Then, act as you see best fit, and notice the impact you have on others. We may not agree with them, yet we have appreciation and willingness to work alongside. Cultural competence in social work deals with understanding the cultural differences of people in need of social services. Social loafing is the psychological phenomenon where people are less productive when theyre working as a team. It aims to, address long-standing inequities in the quality and access to vital mental health services for minority groups. A significant reason why the breast cancer disparity is so prominent is that healthcare workers do not follow up with black women as quickly as they do with white women. Multicultural competence is a 21st Century skill for counselors and therapists to be able to serve their diverse client community in a manner that authentically supports their wellbeing. Even students who come from diverse neighborhoods will likely come in contact with new cultures as they enter the Human Services field. The way you receive and treat others matters. What appeared to be the absence of care for their child was, in fact, a difficult act of love. How do we learn to interact respectfully and knowledgeably with all the people in our lives who exist outsideour inner circlepeople whose culture and worldview is so far removed from our own? Cultural Competence. This effort seeks to build trust that has been absent due to historically poor and underfunded treatment to these groups. 'Culture' refers to integrated patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups. I once worked with an individual who was diagnosed with ADHD. To make it easy on them, she provided them all the resources that she thought they could possibly need. Come up with some alternative hypotheses about the beliefs and motivations behind the behaviors. 
WebWhy is Cultural Competence Important in Social Work? Practicing cultural competency skills can also elevate your customer service Diverse workplaces are likely to be developmental. Our communities are becoming increasingly diverse. Privacy Policy Its alarming how many leaders overlook this first simple step. It cannot be assumed that your personal experience mirrors that of your client, so again, the client must lead here in expressing their presenting issue. WebWhy is Cultural Competency Important? Some might struggle to find a job because of a lack of resources. Creates a safe work environment A safe work environment is one in which employees can complete their tasks and be a part of a team without any risk to their emotional well-being or physical safety. The answer is simple: cultural competence. Includes culture/language specific and disease/condition specific resources, guidelines for clinicians, research, online training resources, health professional education resources, and more, HIV Provider Cultural Competency Self-Assessment Best practices, research, and tools to fuel individual and business growth. There is no right or wrong selection, simply choose the one that resonates with you the most. Its about seeing others as naturally creative, resourceful, and whole. 
Site Index "Importance of the Multicultural Competence." Accordingly, approaches to treatment cannot simply be rooted in ones own biases because this renders therapeutic services ineffective, and potentially damaging. This creates a vital need for practitioners to develop and continuously refine multicultural competence in their practice in order to effectively carry out their responsibilities. Take a close look at DEI research both within your organization and externally to get a sense of what underlying issues you may be up against. https://studycorgi.com/multicultural-competence-importance/. This supports the students development earlier on their educational journey. Multicultural awareness calls on our interpersonal skills to build connections and relationships. 
To have multicultural competence, you need: A basic understanding of your own culture. In the past, I have often relied on mass media for information of this nature. Even if we have a good grasp of these concepts, it is a skill that requires continuous development. Written by: Elizabeth Sandhofer November 16th, 2022. He served as the Diversity and Inclusion Chairperson for the American Psychological Associations Division 13, the Society of Consulting Psychology from 2020-2021. Fostering an equitable and inclusive culture is everyone's responsibility. This number is only increasing, and it is predicted that international immigration will soon overtake natural increase as the main source of population growth(Vespa 2). From the Office of Minority Health, Cultural and Linguistic Competency America comprises people with diverse racial or ethnic backgrounds, -- and we have to interact with each other in our everyday lives. Promote the specific cultural skills and knowledge that are important for your people to learn. While companies are subject to laws that try to ensure equality, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity statement in the US, experiences within the workplace are often very different. As you embrace these main behaviors, you can practice some effective communication skills. Gaining awareness of it can take time and can be difficult to face. sisters in a circle One of the many healthcare disparities linked to race and culture is cultural Competency. As we improve our levels of cultural competence, we start to demonstrate improved DEI (diversity, equality, and inclusion) and a greater appreciation for our clients journeys. 
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