Cultural Competency in Health, Social & Human Services

Cultural competency is becoming increasingly more important as thousands of people come to this country each year. Because of widely differing social mores, living conditions, traditions, personal beliefs and practices of clients, health professionals in all specialties are finding it difficult to communicate effectively with the members of the diverse racial and ethnic groups that come to them for help. This volume presents the latest information and techniques for improving cultural competency in the delivery of health, social, and human services to ethnic and racial minority groups in the United States. Special attention is paid to the importance of understanding the social and cultural background of clients when assessing diagnosis and treatment modalities. In addition, the book includes a unique discussion of policy and economic issues, which are rarely examined in this context. Notable for its combination of theory and practice, this book also includes material on cultural competency within such special populations as the mentally ill, the elderly, children, and families.