ACTS Consulting Online School

HHS Office of Minority Health merged several existing definitions to conclude the following:

“Cultural and linguistic competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations. “Culture” refers to integrated patterns
of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious,
or social groups. “Competence” implies having the capacity to function effectively as an individual and an organization within the context of cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by consumers and their communities. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Improving Cultural Competence. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series No. 59. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4849. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014)

Objectives: Participants will

• Explore cultural competence and elements necessary for the culturally competent clinician to develop and possess
• Review guidelines for culturally responsive clinical services
• Complete “Application to Practice” discussion questions

Course Modality: This is an independent home-study course. Students will take the course according to their own timeline. 

Course Completion: To receive the course certificate, each student is required to agree to Student Learning Contract, read all text-based materials, view any media posted, complete and pass course examination, and complete and submit course evaluation. 

Note: Posted materials are free from SAMHSA and other public domain sites. 

Course fee applies for continuing education hours and a certificate of completion.