CDS: Cultural Competence

Resources and References

CDS: Cultural Competence

Resources:

Being able to provide culturally responsive supports requires self-awareness. It requires ongoing learning. Culture, language, life experiences, and access to resources all affect a person’s worldview. However, most of what shapes each person’s worldview is hidden from others and may not be something people can even identify in themselves. Direct support professionals who want to be more responsive to others can start by learning more about themselves (and completing the reflections in this course).

Learning more on a regular basis about how you and others see the world, will help you think more flexibly about the potential narratives and beliefs people may bring to situations. It can help you have a broader mindset as you explore what will work for each person. You can enhance your knowledge of cultural perspectives through conversations, travel, art, history, music, movies, celebrations, food, dance, books, and spoken word or poetry. Below is just a short list of resources to get you started.

Culturally Competent Long-Term Services and Supports: Spotlight on Keiro Northwest

This is a spotlight profile of culturally specific services for older adults using long-term services and supports. This brief describes specific strategies for being culturally responsive. It is part of information on cultural competence in LTSS provided by a provider organization.

National Center for Cultural Competence

This center supports cultural and linguistic competency development for health and disability organizations. Their materials and approaches were source materials for much of the content developed here. They focus mostly on leaders. However, DSPs may find some of their source materials and assessments useful as well.

Native American Heritage Day

This is a short blog on an indigenous view of this nationally designated day to honor Native American heritage in the US. You can also explore the site to learn more about Native American history, modern life, and perspectives from the indigenous view.

Project Implicit

Much of what we think or feel about others is not conscious. This site will help you learn more about implicit biases. You can take tests in several areas to see how you do as far as understanding your potential implicit biases.

Protocol for Culturally Responsive Organizations

This is a thorough review of organizational aspects of cultural responsiveness. It also includes an assessment process. It is primarily focused on racial and ethnic differences, and not as much on disability.

So You Want to Talk about Race

This book supports self-reflection and growth in understanding race and intersectionality.

The Social Determinants of Health

This short YouTube video produced in Australia provides a quick overview to the complex subject of the Social Determinants of Health.

The internet offers many options to learn more about the world and how people live their lives. This sample of YouTube videos may provoke thoughts and learning about a variety of culturea and worldviews.

Check out additional content in the College of Direct Support or in other DirectCourse curricula. Content most related to the materials in this lesson include:

References: