title: In praise of cultural-competence training for mental health professionals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mental health practitioners in Israel encounter clients from a variety of ethnic groups and cultural backgrounds. Yet, culturally-informed practice standards have neither been defined nor promoted by the professional establishment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A model for cultural-competence training for mental health professionals is presented and evaluated based on self-reports of 51 trainees.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increase in the trainees' understanding of their clients' cultural experiences is elicited, as well as the expansion of their cultural self-awareness, empathy and respect for cultural diversity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  this is a qualitative evaluation with a limited number of respondents and provides data only on short term effects of the training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the evaluation demonstrates positive training effects on the practice. Hopefully, this experience will encourage addressing cultural issues in the practice and training of mental health professionals in Israel.
authors: Department of Social Work, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Mirsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000193:education*; D065246:Culturally Competent Care / Q000592:standards*; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008603:Mental Health / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation