Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

H. Denise Dodds, MCRP, MEd, PhD and Cindy Engler, RN, MPH. Research Office, Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, 617-534-2410, ddodds@bphc.org

In Boston, as in other cities nationwide, people of color experience severe health disparities when compared with white residents. Increasing cultural competency of health care organizations is recognized as vital to reducing health disparities. In 2001, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health issued the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care (CLAS). These standards define key elements of culturally and linguistically competent care including “undertaking ongoing organizational self-assessment of cultural and linguistic competence.”

To facilitate self-assessment in Boston's health centers, the Boston Public Health Commission developed the Cultural Competence Assessment Tool with funding from Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts. A three-step process was used to develop the tool. First, research was conducted to identify elements of culturally competent care. Secondly, an advisory board consisting of health center administrators, clinicians, and consumers reviewed the research and helped select content areas to be included in the tool. Finally, Executive Directors from Boston's community health centers reviewed to ensure that the tool was user-friendly. The tool guides health care organizations in assessing the cultural competence of their administrative structures and practices in three primary areas: (1) Leadership, Staffing, and Community Involvement; (2) Health Care Planning and Delivery; and (3) Cross Cultural Training and Communication. The tool provides users with worksheets and guiding questions to assist them in assessing their operation in 18 topic areas; it also includes worksheets to record strengths, areas for growth, and action steps.

Learning Objectives: Participants will know how to create a tool to assess cultural competency in health centers including

(
• involving consumers, practitioners, and administrators in tool development, (
• connecting the tool to OMB CLAS standards, and (
• selecting a comprehensive, yet “user-friendly” format.

Keywords: Cultural Competency, Assessments

Related Web page: www.bphc.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation