Learning from those we serve: Piloting a culture competence intervention co-developed by university faculty and persons in recovery

Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2016 Mar;39(1):14-9. doi: 10.1037/prj0000155. Epub 2015 Nov 16.

Abstract

Objective: This article describes the development and piloting of a bilevel intervention codeveloped by persons in recovery from mental illness and addiction and university faculty with expertise in cultural competence to improve the cultural competence of a community mental health center in the northeastern United States.

Method: Two faculty and 5 persons in recovery met for 6 months to develop the bilevel training intervention. They discussed experiences of culturally responsive care and developed experiential activities and case examples for the 2-day training. Forty-five community mental health service providers attended the 2-day training. Trainees' self-reported awareness, knowledge, and skills in cultural competence were measured pre and post training and analyzed with repeated measure t tests. Next, faculty and persons in recovery provided follow-up training and helped to establish an infrastructure supported to support the agency cultural competence plan. One hundred twenty-five providers completed the Organizational Multicultural Competence Survey and between-subjects t tests measured increases in organizational cultural competence.

Results: Significant increases were found in providers' multicultural knowledge, awareness, and skills. Qualitative responses demonstrated the contribution of the experiences of persons in recovery to the training. Ratings of the organizational-level cultural competence intervention showed significant improvements in the agency's cultural competence policies (e.g., implementation of strategies to hire and retain a diverse workforce).

Conclusions and implications for practice: These data suggest that bilevel interventions codeveloped by persons in recovery and researchers may be effective in increasing provider and organizational-level cultural competence. Future research should evaluate the effect of these interventions on consumers and health outcomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Community Mental Health Centers
  • Community Mental Health Services / methods*
  • Community Mental Health Services / standards
  • Community Participation / methods*
  • Cultural Competency*
  • Faculty*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • New England
  • Pilot Projects
  • Program Development
  • Psychiatric Rehabilitation / methods*
  • Psychiatric Rehabilitation / standards