Promoting Cultural Competency
An outgrowth of the MEDC's mission is the development of our
Cultural Competency Training Program.
MEDC has adopted the definition of Cultural Competency from the work of
Cross et al., 1989 as “a set of behaviors, attributes and
policies enabling an agency (or individual) to work effectively in
cross cultural situations”.
MEDC further defines Cultural Competency through three Guiding
Principles:
Commitment – What
kind of concrete commitment do you have to your clients?
Accessibility –
language appropriate, case sensitive, location, and representation
Relevance – services
and focus is relevant to the needs of the client
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MEDC’s approach incorporates concepts related to institution
and links the intersections of anti-racism work with cultural
competency. This link is essential for participants to begin to
understand how cultural competency is inextricably a tool for social
justice work.
Our philosophy and approach is embedded in our belief that cultural
competency is a part of a continuum that can lead to an anti-racist/
anti-oppression movement for social change.
Our participant list demonstrates the breadth of application of our
framework of cultural competency to a broad base of health and human
services, and other private and public sectors. MEDC understands and
promotes the idea that cultural competency is an ongoing journey that
requires organizations to continuously engage in self-examination
throughout the entire structure of one’s organization.
Through this framework for understanding Cultural Competency, your
organization can begin to assess, develop and implement change in order
to better understand and meet the needs of those who you are assisting.
Our emphasis on race is derived from MEDC’s two decades of
advocacy related to social justice and equity in the interest of people
of color.
Race is one of the primary factors that contribute to the gross
disparity of equal access to human and health resources.
The tools and skills used in the training to examine racism and
privilege can be applied to other forms of oppression that affect other
types of cultures – such as ethnic, religious, or social.
Enhancing cultural competence is a life-long
journey. Every individual and organization is somewhere
on the continuum of cultural competence. Assessing where one is on the
continuum is a non-judgmental process, but necessary in order to be
definitive and intentional in creating strategies for forward movement.
MEDC provides a range of modules of training
that be customized for your organization. We also offer
one-day and two-day Open Enrollment Trainings that are open to both
service providers and the general public.
To bring training to your organization or to register for an open
enrollment training session, visit our Training Schedule, email us or call (206) 325-2542.
Online registration is now available! Click Here to register online! |
