Focuses on the establishment of cultural competence within organizations so that professionals can work effectively in cross-cultural situations. Cultural competence is defined as the integration of knowledge about different individuals and groups of people into standards, policies, practices, and attitudes used in appropriate cultural settings to increase the quality of services. Sponsored by the Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice, this web site explains the 5 essential elements that contribute to a system’s ability to become more culturally competent: to value diversity, to have the capacity for cultural self-assessment, to be conscious of the dynamics inherent when cultures interact, to institutionalize cultural knowledge, and to develop adaptations to service delivery reflecting an understanding of diversity between and within cultures. The Web site provides answers to a number of key questions, including why cultural competence is important and how it differs from cultural awareness or sensitivity; what research has been conducted; what organizations are addressing cultural competence through policy, education, or interagency collaboration; how cultural competence is integrating into education; and how cultural competence benefits children. Visitors to the site also are directed to numerous resources, including training workshops, conferences, reading lists, and a calendar of events.
