Culture Competence
for
Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services Training

We provide training to healthcare organizations seeking to become compliant with new federal and state mandates, guidelines and recommendations for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS).

We offer one- and two-day workshops in providing culturally appropriate service to this vital, growing, and historically undeserved community.

"Cultural competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system or agency or among professionals that enable effective interactions in a cross-cultural framework."
T. Cross, et.al., 1989

"Cultural Competency is the ability of individuals and systems to respond respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds and religions in a manner that recognizes, affirms, and values the cultural differences and similarities and the worth of individuals, families, and communities and protects and preserves the dignity of each."
Seattle King County Dept of Public Health, 1994

A Different Approach: The difference between Generalizing and Stereotyping

We take a slightly different approach to CLAS and cultural compliance.

We feel that, no matter how many workshops and seminars one attends, there is nothing more important than developing a relationship with the actual client. That's why our workshops emphasize the difference between generalizing and stereotyping.

While it is very important to understand some of the nuances of a particular community, one must never assume that because something might be generally true of a community, it is therefore true for the individual client. Understanding something about the community might help inform which questions to ask, but it does not replace the crucial necessity of asking the question. Our motto: Increased knowledge teaches us to ask, respectfully, and not to assume.

That said, it makes all the difference in the world to experience care from someone who is at least trying to, and who has some skill at, understanding your culture. Such caregivers help relax clients because these caregivers don't ask insulting questions. They don't ask innocuous questions in insulting ways. They ask smart questions, which show they know a little something about the unique issues of gender, economic level, family status, end of life care, and other key issues for the client.

A Better Culture: Our Workshops

We specialize in creating exciting, enriching learning environments in which it is safe to be politically incorrect. It is safe to ask the questions you've always wanted to know, but have never had a guilt-free forum to explore.

Finally, we feel it is important remember that culturally appropriate service can only take place in an atmosphere of mutual support for the caregivers.

In other words, part of becoming a more culturally appropriate care-giving organization is to create a culture in the workplace that is appropriate and supportive of one another as we climb the learning curve for appropriate service together. Sometimes mistakes will be made. We have to be able to support one another, and talk through these cultural differences at work, so that we can provide better service to our clients.

Cultural competence can be a very touchy topic. Organizations must have skills at raising sensitive issues in gentle but straightforward, caring, honest ways. The culture of the caregivers is as important as the culture of the care recipients.

We begin by helping to define success for this initiative. We help teams and organizations articulate a specific goal, and then we develop a way of measuring progress towards that goal.

Next, we help organizations prepare for their introduction to CLAS requirements by talking to the people on the "front lines" of the organization, to better understand their issue with providing culturally and linguistically appropriate service.

We combine that input with our own experience in the health care field and prepare a set of case studies, which form a key component of the workshop. We also provide brief group dynamics modules, which help confer vital small group work skills for CLAS or any other initiative.

We also provide some feedback work, so that once the workshop is completed and the inevitable mistakes are made, your organization has a framework in which to continue to help one another, not simply to judge or condemn or react.

Our goal is not simply to deliver workshops, but to transfer skills that can be used to strengthen your organization in the long run.

If this sounds like the right approach, then contact us. We'll set up a time to discuss our course offerings, and to settle on the approach which is best for you.

Our consultants have been providing support in cultural diversity, group dynamics, conflict resolution, and creating joy at work for schools, health care organizations, and corporations for over two decades.

Contact us to learn more about providing quality cultural competence training for your employees.