Treatment Centers for More Cultural Understanding STRIVE
We Get it
“
CULTURAL COMPETENCY IS The capacity for people to increase their knowledge and understanding of cultural differences, the ability to acknowledge cultural assumptions and biases (and) the willingness to make changes in thought and behavior
“ SAMHSA researchers note that it’s not enough to try to understand other cultures. True cultural competency comes from understanding one’s own culture in relation to other cultures. A 2014 SAMHSA study lists the following axioms for the culturally competent counselor:
CULTURAL COMPETENCY IS “The ability to honor and respect the beliefs, languages, interpersonal styles, and behaviors of individuals and families receiving services, as well as staff members who are providing such services. Cultural competence is a dynamic, ongoing developmental process that requires a long-term commitment and is achieved over time.” -U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) “ America, designed as a melting pot made to withstand any ingredient, is more diverse than ever. Researchers predict the U.S. will be a majority-minority country by the mid-2040’s as minority births far outpace white births. Indeed, more than half of all Americans under five are non-white. Institutional awareness and inclusion of differing cultures has always been a challenge, and the field of addiction recovery care is no exception. However, treatment centers have made strides in cultural competency, thereby providing clients with better care and clinicians with more diverse and efficient treatment models. 12
CULTURAL COMPETENCY FOR ADDICTION TREATMENT PROFESSIONALS
to address those biases. -U.S. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
Frame issues in culturally relevant ways Allow for complexity of issues based on cultural context Make allowances for variations in the use of personal space Be respectful of culturally speci c meanings of touch (e.g., hugging) Explore culturally based experiences of power and powerlessness Adjust communication styles to the client’s culture Interpret emotional expressions in light of the client’s culture Expand roles and practices as needed
Experts agree that acknowledging, appreciating and understanding varying cultures is critical to effective treatment. Cultural competency provides those in recovery with more options and equips treatment professionals with more tools. “Every culture has specific values that can be used in treatment,” write researchers from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “such as the support of extended families and of religious or spiritual communities. By appreciating a client’s culture, staff can tap into the most effective treatment strategies: those based on the personal and social strengths of each individual.” Indeed, treatment centers that don’t recognize and implement cultural competency practices stand to lose funding. Attention to cultural competence is a requirement for accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). JCAHO currently is reviewing and is expected to adopt some form of the national standards for culturally and linguistically appropriate services in health care.
TRAITS OF CULTURAL COMPETENCY SAMHSA researchers lay out the tenets of a culturally competent treatment staff: Staff knowledge of or sensitivity to the rst language of clients Staff understanding of the cultural nuances of the client population Staff backgrounds similar to those of the client population
Treatment methods that re ect the culture- speci c values and treatment needs of clients Inclusion of the client population in program
As addiction treatment centers develop new modalities for effective treatment and the U.S. population grows ever more diverse, the need for cultural competency in the industry will only increase.
policy-making and decision-making An understanding of race, ethnicity and culture
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker