Cultural Competence Exchange Newsletter

November 1999

Cultural competence is an overarching theme within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The attainment of our vision of achieving 100% access and 0 health disparities depends on the ability of all of our health systems to deliver culturally competent care. For 30 years, BPHC, through its funded programs, has emerged as a national leader in providing primary health care to underserved and uninsured populations. These include low income, ethnic and racial communities, immigrants, refugees, migrant farm workers and people who are homeless. Our vision, similar to that of MCHB, includes the provision of culturally competent, high quality, comprehensive coordinated primary and preventive care developed and implemented at the community level with empowered consumers driving the system.

In order to transform this vision into reality, cultural competence needs to be merged into every facet of the work we all do--at the local, state, regional and national levels. This newsletter is one way in which we, as partners in health care, can share the essential knowledge to provide high quality, culturally competent health services to our increasingly diverse communities. Please join me in turning this vision into reality.

Marilyn H. Gaston, M.D.
Assistant Surgeon General
Associate Administrator, Bureau of Primary Health Care
Health Resources and Services Administration

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Page last modified December 1999