Achieving Cultural and Linguistic Competence: Implications for Systems Supporting the Health and Mental Health of Young Children and their Families

Presenter: Tawara D. Goode, MA, Assistant Professor & Director, National Center for Cultural Cometence, Center for Child and Human Development, Georgetown University.

Cultural and linguistic competence (CLC) are viewed as essential approaches for reducing disparities and promoting equity by improving access, utilization, service delivery, and the outcomes and well-being of children, families, and the communities in which they live. While the evidence suggests the efficacy of these approaches for health and mental health care, many systems and organizations continue to struggle with the full integration of CLC into their policies, structures, practices, and procedures. This webinar will: (a) delineate the multiple dimensions of culture within the contexts of young children, their families, and systems that provide them with services and supports; (b) describe conceptual frameworks for advancing and sustaining CLC; and (c) examine system and organizational roles in addressing health and mental health equity.