The Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence (MACC) and the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) unveiled MACC’s Statewide Cultural Competence Needs Assessment Report on November 1, 2006. The report supports Ohio’s strategy to close gaps in behavioral health care and outcomes for minority populations. ODMH commissioned the review because of well documented gaps in care (“disparities”) for minority groups.

The MACC report, “Learning Your Needs”: Cultural Competence Needs Assessment summarizes results of a statewide needs assessment process. In the study, MACC investigated:

• how well “cultural competence” is understood by consumers and providers;
  
• what cultural competence efforts are underway;
  
• how the behavioral health system can better meet the needs of diverse consumers;
  
• the range of assessment tools available;
  
• what assistance is needed by local providers/systems in providing more culturally competent services; and
  
• the role MACC, ODMH and other systems should play in supporting cultural competence as a statewide best practice.
  

“MACC will use the findings to develop our five-year strategic plan to incorporate cultural competence into the behavioral health and other systems of care in our state,” said Charleta B. Tavares, MACC Executive Director. “The assessment will shape the future of behavioral health care delivery and ensure that systems of care are meeting the needs of racial, ethnic and cultural minority groups throughout the state of Ohio.”

“We have long known that minority consumers often do not achieve the outcomes from care that they deserve.” said Michael F. Hogan, Ph.D., ODMH Director. “We also know that good relationships between caregivers and consumers are central to recovery. These relationships depend on cultural competence. This needs assessment will help us meet that expectation across Ohio.”

The 12 findings in the report are major themes identified during focus groups and surveys with mental health consumers and providers, including representatives of minority groups. The findings include:

1. Although there is broad support for “Cultural Competence” in behavioral health care, there is not a shared understanding of what this means.
   
2. Consumers must be involved and considered at every level in addressing organizational and system wide cultural competence.
   
3. Some consumers, especially those from cultural groups of smaller size, are not being serviced in a manner consistent with their culture and beliefs.
   
4. Many minority group members are not familiar with the mental health services in their community.
   
5. Cultural Competence trainings and coursework should be included in the educational requirements and therefore the university training of behavioral health care providers.
   
6. To meet the needs of local providers, cultural competence training should be offered regionally and should be designed to address geographic concerns.
   
7. Providers and other system stakeholders need guidance in choosing cultural competence resources to best meet their needs.
   
8. Many in the behavioral health community are still largely unaware of the role of MACC and the resources it provides.
   
9. Many direct care staff and providers are not aware or familiar with the Cultural Competence Assessment Tool (C-CAT).
   
10. Cultural Competence Assessment processes and tools must be flexible and adaptable to diverse participants and geographical areas.
    
11. Reimbursement for mental health care often focuses on delivering sufficient “units of care” rather than providing appropriate culturally competent care.
    
12. Cultural competence should be included into accreditation requirements.
    
    

MACC is a statewide membership association of mental health consumers and family members, service providers and administrators, and advocates dedicated to making Cultural Competence a best practice in Ohio’s Behavioral Health Care and other systems of care.

For information, please contact MACC (614-221-7841).