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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Kim D. Jaffee, MSW, PhD, School of Social Work, Syracuse University, Sims Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244, 315-443-4017, kdjaffee@syr.edu

In our diverse US population, health care and human service providers must be committed to providing services with a high degree of cultural competence. However, it is especially important that the organizations and agencies in which health and human service employees work also have a commitment to promoting multicultural competence within their organization and the community. A Multicultural Competency Assessment for Organizations was completed by directors and staff of four contracting agencies that were part of a larger maternal and child health project. The major research questions that informed this analysis was: 1) What factors do health and human service providers view as inhibiting the multicultural competency of their agency; and 2) What steps do health and human service providers believe can be taken to improve the multicultural competence of their agencies. A total of 83 respondents participated. Based on quantitative and qualitative analysis of the survey data, three areas were found to be in need of attention: 1) Cultural competency training; 2) recruitment and retention of diverse staff; and 3) language barriers. Data will be presented and recommendations made addressing each area to assist agencies in improving multicultural competence. Social workers who work in health settings can use the Multicultural Competency Assessment for Organizations survey to further advocacy efforts that produce organizational changes that promote multicultural competence.

Learning Objectives: