Offers the results of a literature review and presents best practices that incorporate cultural competency into early childhood mental health interventions and services. Best practices are presented in 5 categories: (1) understanding culture from multiple perspectives, which includes practices related to developing worker self-awareness, building knowledge of other cultures, and individualizing services to each family; (2) collaborating with community members, which includes involving both a family’s cultural community and the general community in services; (3) partnering with families in a culturally respectful way, which includes using appropriate assessment tools, understanding each family’s individual situation, and encouraging families to take the lead in determining service needs; (4) interacting with children, which includes increasing sensitivity to linguistic and cultural differences in the classroom and using assessment tools that are appropriate to children; and (5) identifying program strategies that promote cultural competency, which includes adopting a strength-based approach to services, employing diverse staff, and insuring access to services by culturally diverse children and families. Also provides abstracts of and review comments on recommended articles, a list of articles that were not recommended, and a synopsis of the literature review methodology.
