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Cultural
Competence Exchange Newsletter
November
1999
The third annual workshop of the MCH/CSHN component of the National
Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC) had new focus from this
year. Previous workshops were train-the-trainer sessions designed
for families, providers and administrators who had training and
technical assistance responsibilities related to cultural competence
within their organizations. NCCC faculty and staff, in collaboration
with its federal project officer, decided on a new focus for
this year?policy! In NCCC?s experience, policy is too
often neglected. Yet, it is difficult, if not impossible, to
provide culturally competent services within a program or system
that does not have the policies in place that support structures
and practices. From June 19th to 22nd,
1999, the Seattle workshop was called Cultural Competence:
Implications for the Development of Policy and Guidelines for
Programs Serving Children and Youth with Special Health Needs
and their Families. The target audience for this year?s event
were family members, providers and administrators/policy makers
in a position to improve policy related to cultural competence.
The workshop focussed on four key topic areas:
- a conceptual framework for organizational cultural competence
with emphasis on the role of policy makers;
- responding to multiple mandates regarding cultural and linguistic
competence at the Federal, state, local and program levels;
- policy and guidelines related to cultural and linguistic
competence?influencing decision making; and
- tools and strategies for addressing attitudinal bias about
cultural competence.
The workshop combined plenary sessions with small group discussions
to guide participants through the topical areas and help them
develop next steps to take when they returned to their own organizations.
Sixteen excellent faculty members, including five of whom are
family members of CSHN, enriched to the workshop. The opening
session included presentations by two family members on ways
to ensure family participation in policy making.
The NCCC continued its innovating tradition of honoring the
value culturally based and peer-to-peer learning. This year our
opportunity for self-directed, interactive learning experiences
and causal exchange was the Potlatch. The Potlatch is a gathering
in the tradition of Native Americans of the Northwest to celebrate
or honor, exchange information and resources and share with one
another in a time of community.
A total of 36 participants from 19 states attended the workshop.
Participants were nominated by MCH/CSHN programs, NCCC-MCH component
National Advisory Board members and its MCHB/CSHN project officer.
In addition, project officers of the two newest components of
NCCC were invited to nominate participants for the workshop.
Participants left with increased knowledge and skills, a renewed
enthusiasm for influencing policy related to cultural competence,
a new network for support and information and a realistic sense
of the enormity of the task ahead.
Highlights of the meeting included:
- The Cape Fox Dancers shared their Native Alaskan traditions
with participants in a special performance.
- Since the meeting
was held over the Father?s Day weekend, all the "fathers" (the
men who have made important contributions to improve the
lives of children and families)
present were honored.
- The NCCC presented Diana Denboba, Federal Project Officer,
with a special award in honor and celebration of her dedication
and commitment to bringing cultural competence to the forefront
of national policy in the delivery of services to children
with special health care needs and their families.
Participants? Responses to the NCCC 1999 Training Workshop
Vera Frances Tait, MD Bureau Director, Children with
Special Health Care Needs, Utah Department of Health, Salt Lake
City, UT: It was interesting, informative, insightful and inspiring.
I have used the information (written and otherwise) I learned
there in our Bureau, our Multidisciplinary Diversity Committee
and in our Division within the State....as we work toward cultural
competence.
Leo Gaeta, MSW, Program Director, Columbia Basin Health
Association, Othello, WA: In my experience, it?s rare that you
find a group that not only cares about cultural competence, but
is committed to working on achieving cultural competence as a
standard of practice for working with diverse populations....
During this conference, it was great to be in an environment
of professionals who believe and value cultural competence. Meeting
people of different backgrounds and working in different positions
[was helpful]. For example, Maxine Hayes and John Evans holding
high level positions as well as people in the university setting
as well as people at the local level.... If we are going to change
how cultural diversity affects the access to services, change
needs to take place on the entire system and at the different
levels.
Jeff Muse, Director, Special Programs, Great Lakes Intertribal
Council, Inc., Lac du Flambeau, WI: I must say, in all honesty,
that my professional life has been changed.... I found the continuum
for cultural competence to be the most helpful tool presented.
The application within our own tribal agency will reap benefits
that will spread to the smaller communities as well as the counties
and the state.
Heather McNeal, Community Health Nurse, Clackamas County
Public Health Division, Oregon City, OR: I don?t think I have
ever been with a group of people so comfortable talking about
personal and painful situations [related to cultural, racial
and ethnic differences]. We haven?t decided, in our state, what
we are going to do, but we may look at the staff completing a
cultural competence self-assessment process. Our ongoing Cultural
Competence Committee develops a plan each year, which is currently
addressing the needs of a growing Hispanic population.
Carolyn Harris, Family Consultant, Health Care Program
for Children with Special Health Care Needs, Denver, CO: The
structure of the conference allowed for me to really integrate
the information and also provided opportunities for me to try
out some of the activities that might be tried in our state in
relation to cultural competence. The networking provided some
good support for me and I really felt like there were people
I could call on later to talk about cultural competence issues.
Finally, the issues presented and materials you gave us were
really well done and provided something to take home with us
to continue our learning and working on cultural competence.
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