title: Developing a cultural competence assessment tool for people in recovery from racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds: the journey, challenges and lessons learned.
abstract: In 1997, Maryland implemented a new managed care mental health system. Consumer satisfaction, evaluation and cultural competency were considered high priorities for the new system. While standardized tools for measuring consumer satisfaction were readily available, no validated, reliable and standardized tool existed to measure the perception of people from minority groups receiving mental health services. The MHA*/MHP* Cultural Competency Advisory Group (CCAG) accepted the challenge of developing a consumer assessment tool for cultural competency. The CCAG, composed of people in recovery, clinicians and administrators used their collective knowledge and experiences to develop a 52-item tool that met standards for validity and reliability. Consultation from a researcher helped to further develop the tool into one possessing tremendous potential for statewide implementation within Maryland's Public Mental Health System. Recognizing the limitations of the study and the need for further research, this instrument is a work in progress. Strategies to improve the instrument are currently underway with the Mental Hygiene Administration's Systems Evaluation Center of the University of Maryland and several national researchers.
authors.affiliation: Maryland Health Partners, USA. arthurhome@annapolis.net
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Reeves
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Llewellyn J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Cornelius
authors.forename: Naomi C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Booker
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brathwaite
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tufano
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Donato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000592:standards*; D008396:Maryland; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000208:ethnology*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires