Cultural Competence Of Cultural Brokers

It have been proven effective in providing services to individuals from a wide spread of diverse backgrounds. Cultural competence is understanding a set of congruent behaviors, knowledge, attitudes and policies that enable effective work in cross-cultural situations (Bazron, Cross, Dennis, & Isaacs, 1989). This means that an individual trains to understand different cultural groups. Cultural competency training is beneficial to all human service organizations because it aims to increase the knowledge and skills to improve one’s ability to efficiently serve different cultural groups therefore eliminating biases and

I have learned that it is important that educators  and health providers be trained on cultural competency to understand the population they are serving. Marks, Sims, and Osher (King, Sims, & Osher, n.d.) define cultural competency  as a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals and enables that system, agency, or those professionals to work effectively in cross–cultural situations" ( as cited in Cross et al., 1989; Isaacs & Benjamin, 1991). Health providers and educators should investigate demographic patterns or trends in the place where they live and work. This brings awareness of the types of cultures that they might come across when they are working with people. Organizations should integrate and implement policies that promote the value of  diversity, self-assessment, manage the dynamics of difference, acquire and institutionalize cultural knowledge, and adapt to diversity and the cultural contexts of communities they serve (Georgetown  University, 2004). Georgetown University (2004) also stresses that culture competency grows gradually and is always open for improvement.

For us to develop cultural competence we need to have a level expertise, knowledge and attributes. When I mention Expertise I am referring to professional skills such as, being able to communicate correct information for culturally different people and their communities, the skill to candidly discuss racial and ethnic issues and to react to culturally based signs, the skill to understand the meaning that traditions/culture has for each person, Interviewing skills that help to understand and accommodate the role of language in a person’s culture and the skill to use the idea of empowerment on behalf of culturally different people and communities.

In the field of human services, “cultural competency” has become a common buzz meant to address in part the . The intention being, that workers are able to achieve some level of knowledge and training that prepares them to work with

"Cultural competence is defined as a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals and enables that system, agency, or those professionals to work effectively in cross cultural situations (Cross et al., 1989; Issacs & Benjamin, 1991). Operationally defined, cultural competence is the integration and transformation of knowledge about individuals and groups of people into specific standard, policies, practices, and attitudes, used in appropriate cultural settings to increase the

Some of the author’s major points are the lack of understanding of what cultural competence really means which is bringing confusion about ways it can be utilized in the social work field. The confusion of the utilization of cultural competence is leading to the lack of consensus concerning the effective training that providers should obtain and the population being served with the cultural competence skills lack clear description. According to the author, the most popular cultural competence intervention in the healthcare system is the cultural competency training which is for health care providers and the two approaches that have been utilized in creating the intervention are; the programs aimed at improving knowledge which is group specific,

A cultural broker can help to bridge, link or mediate between groups or persons of differing cultural backgrounds to assist with a smooth introduction and interaction between the service and the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community and can be involved on a needs basis especially when there is a language barrier.

Critical reflection 4. Cross- cultural communication 5. Culturally competence practice 6.

Cultural competence is important while dealing with patients from different cultures. Being culturally competent enables nurses to effectively care for people regardless of their background which may be from anywhere around the world. Len Sperry defines cultural competence as “the capacity to draw effectively upon cultural knowledge, awareness, sensitivity and skillful actions in order to relate appropriately to, and work effectively with others from different cultural backgrounds” (Sperry, 2012, pg.3) ¬¬ Cultural competence and class standards are connected because cultural competence is needed in order to adequately follow the CLAS standards. CLAS stands for culturally and linguistically appropriate services. Therefore, I believe it is only culturally competent healthcare workers that can deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate services.

The United States has become increasingly a culturally diverse society. The understanding of cultural relativism in a multicultural working environment can be of a great importance to the success or failure of an organization. What is cultural competency? Before we explain it, let’s take a step back and analyze culture, cultural diversity, and Cultural relativism.

Cultural sensitivity refers to therapist understanding peoples from different backgrounds having different values, practices, and beliefs. I have to be sensitive to those differences when working with individuals and families in therapy. Multicultural competence means effectively working with people who are from different cultural backgrounds. This means, as therapist, I have to learn to be aware of how my own cultural backgrounds affect us and our work.

Cultural broker is a person who facilitates the border crossing of another person or a group of people from one culture to another culture. The act of bridging, linking or mediating between groups or person of differing cultural background for the purpose of reducing cultural conflicts or producing change. Usually the culture broker is from one or other of the culture but could be from the third group. Often they are capable of acting in both directions. The roles cover more than being an interpreter, although this is an important attribute in cross cultural situations where language is a part of the role.

It is essential for the awareness of ‘cultural difference’, to achieve cultural competence. EYLF states and Department of Education, Employment and Workplace relations (DEEWR) and Council of Australian Governments (COAG) can agree; ‘Cultural competence is much more than awareness of cultural differences. It is the ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures’ (p. 16). Standpoint theory clarifies the understanding of your own identity, in connection to the surroundings you live. This is all affected by the learning you gain from yourself and others all over the world. Some of your comprehension is delivered, which is can be constrained by the limitations that the school curriculum in force and whom you may surround yourself with on a day to day basis.

It is high time that people learn about different cultures to have a thorough understanding of the same and thus achieve cultural competency. This is necessary for educators, healthcare givers, attorneys, organizations and all to live in a cross-cultural world without any emotional or physical conflict. Most organizations have their presence in multiple countries and have business relations with people of different cultural groups. So, for a successful business also, cultural competency is the demand.

The reading materials focus more on the cosmopolitan outlook and global culture. They provide thoughtful instances and valuable suggestions to illustrate the significance of the cultural intelligence. It is factual that the cultures in the world have been contacted closely due to the booming of the global business. However, the cosmopolitan corporation still lacks of the competent global leader. Therefore, it is necessary to build the cosmopolitan understanding in the corporation. I also consider that the firms are willing to explore the international markets, but their employees, customers, investors and supplier remain rooted.