Cultural Competence

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Cultural Competence

• Ian Golden
• Misty Penton

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Goals

• Understand the importance of cultural diversity
• Create an honest and open environment for
  collaborative work on shared goals and concerns
• Assess the level of cultural competence
  throughout the process of building a coalition

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What is culture?

• The shared traditions, beliefs, customs, history,
  folklore, and institutions of a group of people
• A group or community that shares experiences that
  shape the way it understands the world
• Groups we are born into
• Groups we join

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Why is understandingculture important?

• The U.S. is more diverse
• In order to build sustainable community
  coalitions
• To achieve community change

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The Importance of Cultural Competence

• Increased respect
• Increased creativity
• Decreased unwanted surprises
• Increased participation from cultural groups
• Increased trust and cooperation
• Overcome fear of mistakes and conflict
• Promotes inclusion and equality

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Steps to Competence

• Cultural knowledge- Knowing about a culture
• Cultural awareness- Understanding other groups
• Cultural sensitivity- Knowing differences exist,
  but not assigning values
• Cultural competence- Includes previous stages
  adds operational effectiveness

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Why is Multicultural Collaboration Important

• it gets everyone involved
• emphasizes common interest,not differences
• it makes for more effective communication between
  groups
• makes people aware of other cultures
• creates a community
• makes a more just society

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Types of Diversity in an Organization

• Ethnicity
• Gender
• Sexual orientation
• Social class
• Spiritual beliefs and practice
• Physical and mental ability

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Building a diverse community

• Welcome everyone
• Don't blame
• Recognize diversity
• Develop relationships

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How Do You BuildRelationships?

• Establish friendships
• Ask questions
• Read about other cultures
• Listen
• Celebrate differences
• Take risks
• Be an ally

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When to Commit to Multicultural Collaboration

• when people affected by a problem are not
  involved in the solution
• when various organizations with common goals are
  pulling in different directions
• when there are problems between diverse groups
• before any problems arise

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Guidelines for Multicultural Collaboration

• learn from generalization,but don't stereotype
• practice
• don't assume that our way is the right way
• listen actively and empathetically
• respect the opinion of others
• be aware of different cultures and values

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How to build a Multicultural Collaboration

• state objectives clearly
• conduct strategic outreach and membership
  development
• establish and structure operating procedures that
  reinforce equality
• practice new and various modes of communication
  and special support
• create leadership positions for everyone
• engage in culturally sensitive activities

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Manage the Dynamics

• Establish a vision and context
• Recruit and outreach to community
• Sponsor diversity training
• Have organizational structure and operating
  procedures
• Use comfortable and respectful communication

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Manage the Dynamics

• Understand "different, but similar"
• Maintain the commitment
• Provide strong leadership
• Provide activities

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Conclusion

• In promoting cultural competence, we are
  embracing
• The differences in people
• Respect for all and their individual dignity
• One's culture(s) as core to who one is