Cultural Competence

As it has been discussed in the textbook and online resources, the only way an organization truly becomes culturally proficient is from support from the leadership of the organization. For DQ3, imagine you have recently been promoted as director of a public health or health care organization and a top item on your agenda is leading a culturally competent organization. Reflect and then respond to the following two questions:

1. As a health professional, what changes in cultural attitudes, behaviors, and values are necessary on MY behalf?
2. How prepared am I and the organization I serve to effectively respond to cultural practices/nuances of patients/clients/customers?

As you reflect on these questions, it may be beneficial to think about any person experiences you’ve had dealing with individuals who have not displayed cultural competence. The purpose of this discussion is for you to think about what YOU need to change in order to be a culturally proficient leader, as well as what additional training you might need. Provide suggestions on how improvements can be made or resources that can be used in order to be culturally proficient.