| 2001 Cultural Competency Assessment |
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| Introduction |
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With the rapidly increasing diversity of the national demographic profile, there has been an increase in national attention focused on improving the ability of health care, social services, and criminal justice services agencies to provide effective assistance to diverse and underserved populations. Having policies and procedures that translate into the delivery of effective services to diverse and underserved populations (such as those underserved by race, ethnicity, language barriers, geographical location, disability, older age, migrant farm worker status, lesbian identity, and immigrant status) has been described as cultural competency. Thus, the aim of improving cultural competency is to produce better outcomes for those receiving services.
Consistent with this national trend, a preliminary assessment of cultural competency within Oregon STOP Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) formula grant funded agencies was conducted for the Criminal Justice Services Division of the Oregon State Police (CJSD). The goals of the assessment were to examine the level of cultural competency and identify unmet needs related to cultural competency among VAWA funded agencies, promote an increased awareness of the need for cultural competency within these agencies, and provide information to CJSD for program and policy development.
The assessment collected information on four aspects of cultural competency: 1) organizational policies and procedures, 2) ability to identify and reach underserved populations, 3) provision of staff training, and 4) agency self-ratings. Information was gathered through mailed surveys of the sixty-six agencies receiving VAWA grant funds during the 2000-2001 grant period. The survey was designed to capture information regarding each agency as a whole, not just the VAWA grant projects, for the three types of agencies receiving funding: victim service programs (n=43), prosecution services (n=16), and law enforcement units (n=7). The resulting data were analyzed in aggregate across all agencies and by type of agency. This assessment was not intended as a detailed study of individual agencies, but rather as an overview to provide the basis for future efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the VAWA formula grant program in Oregon.
(Cross T., Bazron, B., Dennis, K., & Isaacs, M. (1989) Towards a Culturally Competent System of Care, Volume I. Washington D.C.: Georgetown University Child Development Center, CASSP Technical Assistance Center. US Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Subgrant Award and Performance Report, Stop Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program (1998).
Data were analyzed for 62 of 66 agencies. Four agencies were removed from analysis due to: multiple agencies, duplication, non-acceptance of funding, and no identifiable victim service program (training grant).
The VAWA Request for Proposals defines a victim service program as "…a non-profit, non-governmental organization that assists domestic violence or sexual assault victims, including rape crisis centers, battered women´s shelters and other sexual assault or domestic violence programs, including non-profit, non-governmental organizations assisting domestic violence or sexual assault victims through the legal process."
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- Organizational Policies and Procedures Related to Cultural Competency
- Ability to Identify and Reach Underserved Populations
- Provision of Staff Training in Cultural Competency
- Agency Self-Rating of Cultural Competency
- Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendix I - Organizational Polices and Procedures to Cultural Competency by Type of VAWA Funded Agency
Appendix II - Ability to Identify and Reach Underserved Populations By Type of VAWA Funded Agency
Appendix III - Provision of Staff Training in Cultural Competency By Type of VAWA Funded Agency
Acknowledgements
Appreciation is expressed to all of the 2000-2001 VAWA
funded agencies for their participation in this study.
This study was supported by the
U.S. Department of Justice,
Office of Justice Programs,
Bureau of Justice Assistance.
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