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REACH Announces T.A. Awards
Five nonprofit organizations working in primary medical and mental health fields have been selected to receive technical assistance to strengthen their organizations’ practice of cultural competency.
The following organizations will work with a technical assistance team led by Jose Reyes, Ed.D., L.P.C., principal of Cultural Competency LLC:
- Hope House, Inc.
- Cabot Westside Health Center
- Jackson County Community Mental Health Levy Fund
- Pathways Community Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., and
- Spofford
The technical assistance award is for one year. REACH will issue a second application for technical assistance in fall 2010. | A Cultural Competency Initiative was introduced at the end of 2008 to increase the practice of cultural competency in health and human service organizations in the REACH Foundation’s six-county service area. The Foundation has made a three-year commitment to the initiative with the expectation that the technical assistance and training activities will lay the groundwork for community endeavors that can sustain these efforts.
The REACH Foundation contracted with a team of experts led by Jose Reyes, Ed.D., L.P.C., a consultant and presenter on the topics of Diversity, Respectful Workplace, Cultural Competence and Human Relations, to provide input on the development of the initiative. Reyes’ and his consulting team will provide training for nonprofit leaders in the Foundation’s service area, assess organizations on cultural competency practices, and provide direction on changing organizational policies and practices.
A Steering Committee comprised of area nonprofit leaders with expertise in cultural competency is serving in an advisory capacity for the initiative.
The long-term goal of the initiative is to advance the cultural competency of health and human service organizations such that health disparities will be eliminated or reduced. Intermediate outcomes for the initiative include:
- Increase organizational understanding of national best practices in cultural competency, and encourage health and human service organizations to adjust service delivery to meet the needs of the populations they serve;
- Increase awareness of how cultural competence affects health care access, delivery of services and health outcomes for individuals;
- Establish a cadre of nonprofit leaders that will continue efforts beyond the life of the initiative;
- Engage other foundations in the Greater Kansas City area in supporting organizations’ efforts in this area.
In fall 2009, the Foundation issued an Application for Technical Assistance to invite nonprofit organizations to participate in an assessment and technical assistance process that will focus on organizational structure, policies and procedures that affect cultural competence and organizational diversity and inclusion. The first round of technical assistance recipients will be selected in February 2010. Other training and educational activities will be announced in 2010.
For more information on the initiative, contact Carla Gibson, 913-432-4196.
Click here to see the current list of stakeholder committee members.
Following is a list of resources on cultural competency:
National Center for Cultural Competence
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, Cultural Competency
“Philanthropy in a Changing Society: Achieving Effectiveness Through Diversity,"
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, 2008
Working Together for a Healthier Kansas: A Status Report on the Social Determinants of Health in Kansas, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Minority Health Disparities in Missouri: 2009 African American Data Book
Minority Health Disparities in Missouri: 2009 Hispanic Data Book
“Better Communication, Better Care: Provider Tools to Care for Diverse Populations,” ICE Cultural and Linguistic Work Group
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