WORKGROUP ON CULTURAL COMPETENCE Summary of Accomplishments October 2005 The Workgroup on Cultural Competence in Adult Behavioral Health Services in Broward County was formed in October 2001 as a result of language that was included in DCF contracts requiring organizations to “comply with the Managed Care Mental Health Standards for Cultural Competence” promulgated by SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The Workgroup addressed the need to review and refine those standards to make them applicable not only to Broward County, but also to remove the focus on managed care and expand the focus from mental health to all of behavioral health services. The following represents an overview of accomplishments of the Workgroup to date: • Once the standards were reviewed and revised, the Workgroup developed a tool to assess the needs of behavioral health organizations providing services in Broward County. This tool was then shared with the Executive Directors, Clinical Directors, and Quality Improvement personnel within each organization in an effort to provide comprehensive and consistent training. Each organization was then asked to complete and return the tool to the Workgroup. Upon completion, the Workgroup compiled the aggregate results and formulated scores for each individual organization as well as identified systemic issues and concerns. These systemic issues included the development of a comprehensive training curriculum, creation of a Resource Fair, and development of a collaborative effort between Quality Improvement personnel, as well as between Assessment and Intake personnel. • Each organization was provided with the information relative to its own assessment and was instructed to develop a Cultural Competence Plan to address their areas of concern. Two technical assistance meetings were held with the Workgroup to aid organizations in their efforts to complete their plans. Organizations were instructed to complete their plans by March 31, 2004 to be available for review by DCF-ADM and County monitoring teams. • A Community Resource Fair was held in April 2004, providing an overview of cultural competence and its impact on the workplace. Approximately 75 individuals participated in the Fair, as well as 15 vendors. • A second Community Resource Fair was held in March 2005. Approximately 75 individuals participated in this event, which received very favorable reviews. Follow-up Impact Questionnaires identified participants’ positive response to the event. • A total of eight (8) focus groups were held with provider organizations, as well as with primary consumer groups regarding the issue of cultural competence in the provision of behavioral health services. Results indicated that participants would like training in many areas, but particularly in the area of communication (potential barriers in cross-cultural therapeutic processes), co-occurring disorders, and family structure and roles. The cultures they were most interested in learning more about were Hispanic Americans, Middle Eastern Americans, and Sexual Orientation, followed by Gender and African Americans. When learning about various cultures, they would like to learn more about their encounters with prejudice and discrimination, gender-related issues and roles, acculturation and assimilation, and ethnic, racial, and religious identification. In addition, participants indicated the need to address the following: o The culture of institutionalization; o The culture of incarceration; o The culture of addiction; o The culture of recovery; o The culture of gangs; o The culture of poverty; o The culture of homelessness; and o The culture of persons with other disabilities (e.g., developmental disabilities, physical challenges, cognitive challenges, etc.). • The Workgroup developed a Consumer Satisfaction Survey that was distributed to all provider organizations for completion over a one-week period in the month of September 2005. Results have been tallied and reviewed and a report has been written. The following are future plans for the Workgroup on Cultural Competence: • Develop a comprehensive training curriculum to be submitted for certification on a state level. Conduct pilot projects and implement curriculum. The planning for this curriculum is currently in process. • Host “Best Practices” conference relative to cultural competence in the provision of behavioral health services. • Conduct an outreach campaign to include all provider organizations in the Workgroup’s ongoing activities.