Providing culturally competent programming, activities, and interventions begins with a clear and comprehensive understanding of your community. With this foundation, you can put together a full menu of appropriate programs, interventions, and activities that meet your community members where they are, with service providers who understand their needs and are able to fulfill them.
Cultural adaptation refers to program changes that are culturally sensitive and tailored to a particular group’s traditional world views. Effective cultural adaptation is especially important when it comes to implementation.
Too often, people equate cultural adaptation with translation, but it is much more than that. Effective cultural adaptation considers the values, attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of the target audience. It depends on strong linkages to cultural leaders and access to culturally competent staff.
Making sure that your intervention is simply available to the target audience is not sufficient. Integrating the principles of cultural competence into the implementation phase will help ensure that your intervention is accessible to and effective with the identified target population. This requires paying attention to logistical issues, for example:
- Transportation
- Flexible operating hours
- A sliding fee schedule
- Offering services in a variety of languages, with translation and interpreter services.
Depending on their cultural, historical, or ethnic background, some parents may be resistant to take part in your group’s programs and services. Explaining the nature and benefits of services to parents in terms that are acceptable, understandable, and amenable to them can help overcome this resistance.
Consider cultural competence when seeking community partners and service providers as well. Enlist clinicians and other providers who have the capacity to provide culturally and linguistically competent services. You might also develop a policy statement that any services provided will be uniformly culturally and linguistically competent and of high quality. Ensuring diversity among your partners and in your leadership and developing links with community institutions are all good strategies for supporting cultural competence.32