Public Health Pronto: Module 4.1

Cultural Competency

Module 4.1: 5-Minute Introduction

In this module we provide background on the competency as well as context and information about our learning activities via a video podcast (see below). We also provide a context for you to Learn more about the competency and to start a conversation, so please Comment on what you have learned and Interact with others who have commented.

LEARN

Cultural Competency Skills focus on understanding and responding to diverse needs, assessing organizational cultural diversity and competence, assessing effects of policies and programs on different populations, and taking action to support a diverse public health workforce.

Those working in public health fields are obligated to provide services that are respectful of and responsive to the health beliefs, practices and needs of diverse patients. As the United States becomes an increasingly diverse country, it will be more important than ever to be able to effectively operate in different cultural contexts and alter your practices to reach different cultural groups.

Within this domain, staffers in all three tiers (front line/entry-level; program management/supervisory; and senior management/executive-level) need to understand the concept of diversity and be able to describe the diversity of individuals and populations in the communities they serve. They also need to appreciate the value of a diverse public health workforce and, for those in Tiers 2 and 3, advocate for this workforce diversity.

In general, staffers need to acknowledge diverse perspectives as they develop, implement, and evaluate policies, programs, and services that affect community health, and then consider the diversity of individuals and populations when they implement those policies, programs, and services. Finally, they need to determine the effects of their work on these diverse populations.

Each of the staffing tiers has a role to play in carrying out these actions. For example, Tier 1 staffers address the diversity of individuals and populations when they implement policies, programs, and services. Tier 2 staffers ensure that this diversity is addressed. And Tier 3 staffers advocate for the diversity to be addressed.

So what subject areas should a person interested in evaluating and improving their skills within this domain study?

For starters, we suggest Culturally Competent Strategies and a Culturally Diverse Workforce. You also will want to make sure you explore Organization and Individual Culturally Competent Self-Assessments.

In addition to this series, you can explore the resourses below to learn more about this competency.

• Cultural competence strategies
• Public health cultural competence health services
• Response to diverse needs
• Dynamic forces of cultural diversity
• Diverse public health workforce
• Cultural competence assessment
• Public health organization cultural competence

COMMENT

Comment on the Presentation...

You can share your perspective on this competency with others in the field by entering your comments here. Tell us how you have personally applied this competency in your daily work, ask questions about the competency, or suggest additional trainings that can be used by others to support learning in this competency.

Click for Discussion Form

If you can't see/access the form above, please email your comments to [email protected].

INTERACT

See What Others are Saying...

• As we receive comments, we add them to this page to begin a conversation. Check back often to see how the dialog progresses.

Tell us how you have used/integrated this competency into your daily work.

• I think this work is great! Good basic strategies to start with. The only thing I would note is that Cultural Competency is Domain 4, not Competency 4. True of all of them.
• This module was really valuable. Having a better idea of the many health challenges minorities face, often due to lack of access to resources, was eye opening.
• I will use this information to assess myself and how I interact with others of different cultures.
• I will use this information to become a better informed leader and member of society.