Training Institutes 2012 - National Technical Assistance Center for ...

RESOURCES
Definition of Cultural and
Linguistic Competence
Definition of Cultural Competence
There is no one definition of cultural competence. Definitions of cultural competence have evolved from diverse
perspectives, interests, and needs and are incorporated in state legislation, Federal statutes and programs, private sector
organizations, and academic settings. The seminal work of Cross et al in 1989 offered a definition of cultural
competence that established a solid foundation for the field. Cultural competence is a set of congruent behaviors,
attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals and enable that system, agency or
those professions to work effectively in cross-cultural situations.
The word culture is used because it implies the integrated pattern of human behavior that includes thoughts,
communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of a racial, ethnic, religious, or social group. The
word competence is used because it implies having the capacity to function effectively.
Five essential elements contribute to a system’s, institution’s, or agency’s ability to become more culturally
competent which include:
1. Valuing diversity
2. Having the capacity for cultural self-assessment
3. Being conscious of the dynamics inherent when cultures interact
4. Having institutionalized culture knowledge
5. Having developed adaptations to service delivery reflecting an understanding of cultural diversity
These five elements should be manifested at every level of an organization including policy making, administrative, and
practice. Further these elements should be reflected in the attitudes, structures, policies, and services of the organization.
Definition of Linguistic Competence
Definitions of linguistic competence also vary considerably, and are incorporated into state legislation, Federal statutes
and programs, private sector organizations and academic settings. The following definition, developed by the National
Center for Cultural Competence, provides a foundation for determining linguistic competence in health care, mental
health, and other human service delivery systems.
Linguistic Competence is the capacity of an organization and its personnel to communicate effectively, and convey
information in a manner that is easily understood by diverse groups including persons of limited English proficiency,
those who have low literacy skills or are not literate, individuals with disabilities, and those who are deaf or hard of
hearing. Linguistic competency requires organizational and provider capacity to respond effectively to the health and
mental health literacy needs of populations served. The organization must have policy, structures, practices, procedures,
and dedicated resources to support this capacity. This may include, but is not limited to, the use of:
• Bilingual/bicultural or multilingual/multicultural staff
• Cross-cultural communication approaches
• Cultural brokers
• Foreign language interpretation services including
distance technologies
• Sign language interpretation services
• Multilingual telecommunication systems
• Videoconferencing and telehealth technologies
• TTY and other assistive technology devices;
• Computer assisted real time translation (CART) or
viable real time transcriptions (VRT;
• Print materials in easy to read, low literacy, picture and
symbol formats
• Materials in alternative formats (e.g., audiotape,
Braille, enlarged print)
• Varied approaches to share information with
individuals who experience cognitive disabilities
• Materials developed and tested for specific cultural,
ethnic and linguistic groups
• Translation services including those of: legally binding
documents (e.g., consent forms, confidentiality and
patient rights statements, release of information,
applications); signage; health education materials;
public awareness materials and campaigns; and ethnic
media in languages other than English (e.g., television,
radio, Internet, newspapers, periodicals)
Developed by Tawara D. Goode and Wendy Jones, 8/00, Revised 8/03, 9/08, 3/10.
164 Training Institutes 2010