NCJ Number
151298
Date Published
1994
Length
118 pages
Annotation
This guide is designed to help local runaway and homeless youth programs better meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population of youth by enhancing the cultural competence of the staff of such programs.
Abstract
It addresses issues related to the creation of change within a program or organization, a critical element in moving toward cultural competence. It provides some simple strategies for beginning the process of exploring cultural diversity. The guide then provides an overview of how to begin assessing the cultural appropriateness of program management and services. An appendix provides several assessment tools that organizational leaders can adapt for use locally. One chapter focuses on taking action and suggests methods for examining the organizational structure in which change must occur. It also explores the changes necessary to move staff and board members toward cultural competence. Each chapter raises issues, shares strategies for dealing with cultural competence, and provides resources to help the user get started. Other appendixes provide materials on cultural competence; a list of national resource organizations; matrixes of youth diversity, community diversity, staff diversity, board diversity, and volunteer diversity; and an evaluation form. A glossary is provided.