Course Description:

This course is based upon material published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and is part of their recently published Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) on improving cultural competence.

According to SAMHSA – The development of culturally responsive clinical skills is vital to the effectiveness of behavioral health services. According to Cross et al in 2001 cultural competency is a set of behaviors, attitudes, and policies that . . . enable a system, agency, or group of professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural situations This Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) uses Sues (2001) multidimensional model for developing cultural competence. Adapted to address cultural competence across behavioral health settings, this model serves as a frame-work for targeting three organizational levels of treatment: individual counselor and staff, clinical and programmatic, and organizational and administrative.

Chapter 3 presents culturally responsive evaluation and treatment planning as a series of nine steps, which include: 1 engage clients;  2 familiarize clients and family members with the evaluation and treatment process;  3 endorse a collaborative approach in facilitating interviews, conducting assessments, and planning treatment;  4 obtain and integrate culturally relevant information and themes;  5 gather culturally relevant collateral information;  6 select culturally appropriate screening and assessment tools; 

7 determine readiness and motivation for change;   8 provide culturally responsive case management; and 9 integrate cultural factors into treatment planning.   In this course, each of these steps is discussed in detail with case examples provided to enhance understanding.

Although this document was written from the perspective of providing drug treatment services, it contains some of the most current research and collaboration from renowned sources in the field.  It was extensively revised and vetted by a wide array of behavioral health specialists and has undergone a more rigorous screening and review than most peer reviewed publication.   As a result, the information is appropriate for clinicians who work with a wide variety of presenting problems, not just those involved in substance abuse treatment.

This course is appropriate for beginning, intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their understanding of cultural competence. The course material provides steps in conducting culturally competent evaluation and treatment planning.

This course is particularly useful for licensed clinicians who require clinical continuing education courses for license renewal.  It is especially appropriate for behavioral health workers who require cross cultural counseling content for license renewal.

Authors:  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding cultural competence.  Specifically, a professional will:

• Identify the steps in culturally responsive evaluation and treatment planning.
• Distinguish key practices relevant to culturally responsive evaluation.
• Recognize essential components of culturally responsive treatment planning.

Citation:  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Improving Cultural Competence. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series No. 59. Chapter 3: Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Treatment.  HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4849. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014. Reviewed by TM DiDona, PhD 2018 and found to be current. For a full list of current references, please Click Here