The initiative offers technical assistance, training activities and a learning community to assist health and human services organizations working with diverse populations.
The REACH Foundation, Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City and Jackson County Community Mental Health Fund announced cultural competency technical assistance recipients for 2012-2013. Read the press release.
The REACH Foundation introduced a Cultural Competency Initiative in 2009 to increase understanding and practice of cultural competency in health and human service organizations, with a long-term goal of reducing health disparities. The initiative focuses on policies, practices and internal structures that influence cultural competence within organizations.
A major component of the initiative is technical assistance to help program managers, organization executives and trustees address policies and practices that affect culturally competent provision of services and ultimately influence health outcomes.
The Foundation works with a technical assistance team 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 consult with organizations and help them develop strategies and workplans. Twenty-nine nonprofit organizations are participating in technical assistance.
A Steering Committee comprised of nonprofit leaders with expertise in cultural competency is serving in an advisory capacity for the initiative. REACH program staff have presented the initiative to foundation leaders regionally and nationally. The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City partnered with REACH in 2010, expanding the number of nonprofit organizations involved. The Jackson County Community Mental Health Fund joined the initiative in 2012.
Targets include:
For more information on the initiative, contact Carla Gibson, Senior Program Officer, 913-432-4196.
Read the REACH Foundation Board-adopted Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
Cultural Competency Steering Committee
Resources, Reports on Cultural Competency
To guide the initiative, the REACH Foundation and Steering Committee adopted a definition of cultural competence used by the Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
“Cultural and linguistic competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations. ‘Culture’ refers to integrated patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups. ‘Competence’ implies having the capacity to function effectively as an individual and an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by consumers and their communities.”
[Adapted from Cross, T., Bazron, B., Dennis K., & Isaacs, M., (1989). Towards A Culturally Competent System of Care Volume I. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Child Development Center, CASSP Technical Assistance Center].
Following are additional resources on cultural competency, reduction of health disparities and opportunities for philanthropic involvement:
