Details a newly revised instrument that child-serving organizations can use to evaluate and improve cultural competence in staff relations and client service delivery. This field-tested management tool outlines a step-by-step self-assessment process that guides child welfare agencies, staffers, and those working with them in identifying strengths and weaknesses and then developing plans for improvement. The process relies on a series of questionnaires that: (1) gauge agency personnel’s understanding of the dynamics of ethnic and cultural differences; (2) check that agency documents reflect the cultural diversity of the agency’s staff and clients; (3) measure the board’s accountability for ensuring that the agency fulfills its mission; (4) assess the day-to-day management of the agency; (5) examine whether policy is developed in a culturally appropriate manner; (6) evaluate service delivery; and (7) elicit feedback from the service population. The results of the self-assessment tool will enable an agency to build on its strengths, develop a plan to address challenges, and determine how to organize its work and monitor its progress. Further assistance is available from the Child Welfare League of America.
