Cultural Competence Education and Resources

Definitions and Research:

• “Culture is a system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that the members of a society use to cope with their world and with one another, and that is transmitted from generation to generation through learning.” (Bates and Plog, 1990)

Definitions and Research:

• “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)

Definitions and Research:

• “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 have low literacy skills or are not literate, individuals with disabilities, and those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Linguistic competency requires organizational and provider capacity to respond effectively to the health and mental health literacy needs of populations served. The organization must have policies, structures, practices, procedures, and dedicated resources to support this capacity.” (Goode & Jones [modified 2009]. National Center for Cultural Competence, Georgetown University)

   

Definitions and Research:

• Culture Connections adheres to the competence definitions and measures developed by the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS standards), issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. These standards “are intended to inform, guide, and facilitate required and recommended practices related to culturally and linguistically appropriate health services.” (National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care, OMH, 2014)

  “CLAS standards are the collective set of culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) mandates, guidelines, and recommendations issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health intended to inform, guide, and facilitate required and recommended practices related to culturally and linguistically appropriate health services.” (National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care, OMH, 2014)

Organizations, Networks, Alliances:

• Center for Sensory and Complex Disabilities at The College of New Jersey

Organizations, Networks, Alliances:

• Network on Multicultural Aging
  
• Geriatric Mental Health Foundation

Organizations, Networks, Alliances:

• Human Rights Campaign
• Hudson Pride Connections (Hudson County, NJ)
• African American Office of Gay Concerns (Newark, NJ)
• National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health
• HMI: Newark
• The Trevor Project
• Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health

Organizations, Networks, Alliances:

• NJ Office of Minority and Multicultural Health
• The Whiteness Project
• Center for the Study of White American Culture
• Liberian Community Association of North Jersey