Activity: My Knowledge and Skills as a Culturally Competent Mental Health Consultant

Culturally competent and effective ECMH consultants must be able to recognize, describe, and integrate the influence of culture and language in the consultative process; demonstrating cultural competence through knowledge, skills, and specific practices that are responsive to diversity. Use the self-assessment grid below to reflect on your strengths in knowledge and skills and identify next steps to build cultural competence for mental health consultation.

Please indicate your level of knowledge/skill for each item and identify Next Steps for building cultural competence for mental health consultation	Next steps to build knowledge and skills
I have knowledge and understanding of:
The bio-social context of the family and community Minimal Moderate Strong
The wide range of family structures, family dynamics, and cultural influences on family functioning Minimal Moderate Strong
The influence of cultural issues in parenting and family/child development Minimal Moderate Strong
The importance of family expectations regarding child development Minimal Moderate Strong
The difference between cultural variations in development versus concern Minimal Moderate Strong
Cultural context as a source of resiliency Minimal Moderate Strong
The variance across cultures in mental health practices and how concerns or clinical issues present. Minimal Moderate Strong
The significance of socio-cultural and political contexts for development of young children from diverse backgrounds, including the impact of poverty and marginalization Minimal Moderate Strong
I have the skills that include the capacity to:
Acknowledge personal culture and reflect on impact of values, beliefs, perceptions on the consultant, child, family, and staff relationships Minimal Moderate Strong
Use varied approaches in working with children, families, and staff that engage all parties and their cultural perspectives Minimal Moderate Strong
Explore and understand cultural influences on family and staff perceptions and practices, Minimal Moderate Strong
Recognize and support cultural beliefs and values of families Minimal Moderate Strong
View behavior through a cultural lens and consider cultural influences on variation in behavior and child development Minimal Moderate Strong
Consider culture and context as well as risk factors in planning assessment and intervention Minimal Moderate Strong
Integrate information from others (providers/caregivers) for a multidimensional assessment inclusive of health, physical, social, emotional, psychological and cultural aspects from a developmental and relational perspective. Minimal Moderate Strong
Provide guidance and information in a manner timed and suited to the parent’s strengths, concerns, priorities, and cultural values as well as in the appropriate language or literacy level. Minimal Moderate Strong
Offer individualized supports and interventions that are culturally relevant Minimal Moderate Strong
Select, demonstrate, and coach families on strategies to nurture a child’s development across all domains, including their strengths, emerging capacities, and cultural values Minimal Moderate Strong
Select strategies/interventions based on parent concerns, priorities and resources, including consideration for culture, language, and education Minimal Moderate Strong
Distinguish between resistance to change and a desire to uphold culturally appropriate behavior. Minimal Moderate Strong
Increase the capacity of families and staff to understand one another’s cultural perspective, Minimal Moderate Strong
Support continuity of care between home and the ECE setting Minimal Moderate Strong
Address and negotiate cultural differences Minimal Moderate Strong

(California Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Training Guidelines Workgroup, 2009; Duran et al, 2009)

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This product was developed [in part] under grant number 1H79SM082070-01 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS.