Enhancing Cultural Competence in Drug-Free Community Coalitions

Posted on January 4, 2024

At International Survey Associates, our mission is driven by our commitment to work with our community partners and education coalitions to provide research, resources, and data surrounding and focusing on the current issues that affect today’s youth and adolescents. This month, we’re focusing on cultural competence and how it is a cornerstone in substance use prevention, particularly for Drug-Free Community (DFC) coalitions aiming to create healthier communities.

Connections play a significant role in shaping our identity. They provide a sense of belonging and purpose, contributing to our impact on the world. Our relationships are sources of strength, motivating us to make changes and undergo transformative experiences.

Yet, bridging connections becomes challenging when faced with unfamiliar backgrounds. How do we cultivate respectful and informed interactions with individuals who are sometimes so far beyond our immediate circle? Especially with those whose culture and perspective vastly differ from our own. How can we leverage these differences to enhance our collective human connection?

To truly embrace understanding, we must strive for cultural competence.

This blog will explore cultural competence, its definition, application in DFC coalitions, integration into evidence-based prevention programming, adaptability to changing cultures, and the importance of capacity building through diversity.

Defining Cultural Competence

First and foremost, let’s define just what cultural competence is. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines cultural competence as behaviors, attitudes, and policies enabling individuals, organizations, or programs to function effectively in diverse cultural interactions. It involves investing time and resources in training, examining structures and policies, respecting differences, expanding cultural capacity and knowledge, seeking advice from differing communities, and hiring employees who respect various cultures and are open-eared and ready to learn.

Applying Cultural Competence to a Coalition

Drug-free community coalitions recognize the importance of including a broad cross-section of the population in their work. This includes prioritizing organizations representing different cultural groups and ensuring that cultural competence permeates all aspects of their operations. Despite challenges, effective coalitions actively serve as catalysts for better understanding, inclusivity, and respect for diverse populations.

Incorporating Cultural Competence into Prevention Approaches

Achieving cultural competence requires time and effort, but coalitions must demonstrate their contribution to reducing substance use rates. Changing demographics, the widespread reach of substance use, the value of group strengths, and the need for group representation are all reasons cited for devoting resources to cultural competence. Effective coalitions identify, strengthen, and include protective factors within diverse groups to create comprehensive strategies.

Adapting to Changing Cultures

As the U.S. undergoes demographic changes, coalitions must adapt their communication and overall strategies to the evolving cultural shifts. It is not enough to focus on reducing rates in one segment of a community; a comprehensive approach is necessary to target all demographic groups. Understanding the strengths and protective factors within each group is a must for developing effective prevention strategies.

Capacity Building Through Diversity

DFC coalitions should commit to cultural competence by incorporating it into mission and vision statements, logic models, strategic plans, and action plans. Commitment from the top, avoiding delegation of cultural issues to one individual or department, expanding outreach efforts, using inclusive language, promoting training and development, and sharing responsibility and accountability are essential steps toward achieving cultural competence.

Addressing the Needs of Gen Alpha

Navigating the changing demographics of Gen Alpha has become increasingly necessary. Born after 2010, they are growing up in a world characterized by unprecedented calls for diversity awareness and technological advancements. As this generation enters adolescence, DFC coalitions must adapt to their cultural experiences, values, and communication preferences. Engaging with Gen Alpha requires a nuanced understanding of their digital-native identity, multicultural surroundings, and evolving perspectives on substance use. Incorporating insights from this generation into prevention strategies ensures that coalitions remain relevant and resonate with the changing cultural landscape. 

Action Steps Toward Achieving Cultural Competence

To transform a focus on cultural competence into practical action, coalitions should do the following:

– Develop support for change throughout the organization.

– Identify the cultural groups to be involved.

– Identify barriers to cultural competence at work.

– Assess the current level of cultural competence.

– Determine the needed resources.

– Develop goals and implementation steps.

– Commit to ongoing evaluation of progress.

Enhancing cultural competence in coalitions is an ongoing process that requires commitment, understanding, and proactive efforts to have the impact and effectiveness it deserves. By acknowledging the changing demographics, valuing group strengths, and fostering inclusivity, coalitions can significantly reduce substance use rates and build healthier, more resilient communities. 

If you would like more information on cultural competence or need additional information on general behavioral stress, depression, addiction, or other mental health-related issues in your communities, International Survey Associates offers many options to fit various needs.

Resources

https://www.campusdrugprevention.gov/sites/default/files/2021-11/CulturalCompetence.Disparity.9_27.pdf

https://www.cadca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/cultural_competencecompressed.pdf

https://preemptivelove.org/blog/cultural-competence/

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/mentalhealth/documents/Cultural%20Competence%20Brief%20.pdf