Coursework at the
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 Cultural Competency in Children's Mental Health PHC 6934-904 (3) Instructor: Mario Hernandez, Ph.D.
Office: 974-4651 E-mail: hernande@hal.fmhi.usf.edu
The class will meet every Tuesday, for 14 weeks.
Course Structure  |  Course Objectives  |  Course Outline  |  Assignments

STRUCTURE OF COURSE The course will explore the need of cultural competence in provision of human services in a multicultural society. The concept of cultural competence will be introduced by first examining three concepts which are fundamental to understand its role in today's multicultural American society, i.e., culture and ethnicity, multiculturalism, and inter-cultural communication. Once these concepts are introduced, the course will define cultural competence from the perspective of the current different approaches to the concept. Conceptual definition will be followed by the examination of cultural competence at both systems and service provision levels. Case studies of how cultural competence is implemented by different organizations will be examined. The class will combine the following procedures: the instructor's lectures, students' presentations of readings, films, guest lectures, and experiential exercises. The basic structure of classes, however, will consist of a short introduction by the instructor to the week's readings, followed by students' discussion of the same readings. Films and guest lectures will supplement this basic class structure (see schedule of films and guest lectures).

COURSE OBJECTIVES Students will be able to:

  1. Describe the conceptual basis of cultural competence, i.e., culture-ethnicity, multiculturalism, and inter-cultural communication.
  2. Describe the role of cultural competence in a multicultural society
  3. Describe the role of cultural competence in the provision of children's mental health services, and social services in general.
  4. Describe how cultural competence is implemented by human service organizations
COURSE OUTLINE Total: 14 days
January 11 Introduction to the course
January 18Introduction to Cultural Competence
  1. Cultural competence in today's society
  2. Why the need for cultural competence
  3. The conceptual bases for cultural competence:
    1. Culture, ethnicity, and multiculturalism
    2. Inter-cultural communication
· Experiential exercises:
how is culture, ethnicity, and multiculturalism reflected in the student's daily lives.
January 25Conceptual Basis of Cultural Competence
  1. Definitions of culture (culture as communication)
  2. Why is culture important?
  3. Ethnicity and culture
  4. Acculturation and assimilation
· Guest lecture
February 1 Cultural patterns of specific ethnic groups in the United States
· Film, readings, and guest lecture
February 8Cultural patterns of specific ethnic groups in the United States
· Film, readings, and guest lecture
February 15 Multiculturalism
  1. The movement toward multiculturalism
  2. Why multiculturalism
  3. Multiculturalism and pluralism
  4. Tendencies in multiculturalism
  5. The recognition of diversity in a multicultural society
· Film
February 22Inter-Cultural Communication
  1. What is inter-cultural communication
  2. The role of inter-cultural communication in a multicultural society
  3. Stereotypes
  4. Inter-cultural communication and social services
February 29 Cultural Competence
  1. Definitions
  2. The cultural competence movement in children's mental health services
  3. Trends in cultural competence
March 7Cultural competence and the continuum
March 13-18 SPRING BREAK
March 21The need of cultural competence in human services
  1. Cultural competence within a context of multiculturalism
  2. Services are provided without regard to cultural differences (case studies of non-culturally competent services)
March 28 Creating culturally competent service systems
  1. The cultural competence movement in children's mental health
  2. Cultural competence and systems of care
  3. Cultural competence as reflected in the
    National Agenda for Children with Special Health Care Needs (Surgeon General)
  4. Cultural competence and Education
· Guest lecture
April 4 Creating culturally competent service systems
  1. The cultural competence movement in children's mental health
  2. Cultural competence and systems of care
  3. Cultural competence as reflected in the
    National Agenda for Children with Special Health Care Needs(Surgeon General)
  4. Cultural competence and Education
April 11 Provision of culturally competent services
  1. A cultural competence plan in social service organizations
  2. Issues to consider in a cultural competence plan
    (Case studies of culturally competent services)
· Guest lecture
April 18 Conclusions and evaluations

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. WEEKLY READINGS
    Students will present their own conceptualization and interpretation of the weekly readings. Readings will be assigned during the first week. No written report is required.
  2. MID TERM EXAM
    This will be a take-home exam. The exam will include multiple-choice as well as open-ended questions regarding readings and issues discussed in class by the instructor, guest lecturers, and in films.
  3. FINAL EXAM
    The same as Mid Term Exam.

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