NCJ Number
171750
Date Published
1996
Length
90 pages
Annotation
This is a guide for using organizational assessments in the development of cultural competence in children's mental health organizations.
Abstract
Cultural competence assessments are recognized as useful strategies to guide organizations interested in becoming more culturally competent. Consequently, many cultural competence assessment tools have been developed, and significant learning is occurring. This document guides organizations in how to use the emerging cultural competence assessment technology. It will enable organizations to use assessment as a strategy to improve services for mental health consumers of all ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This guide presents reasons for conducting cultural competence assessments, and it includes issues to consider and suggested steps to follow in planning a cultural competence assessment. Procedures for gathering data to assess cultural competence in a children's mental health organization are suggested, followed by reviews of the available instruments that can be used as part of a cultural competence assessment. Examples illustrate how various assessment strategies have been used to meet the needs of mental health agencies. 45 references