CULTURAL CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN THE DIVERSITY IN THE

WORKPLACEWORKPLACE

Definition of CultureDefinition of Culture

Culture refers to the cumulative deposit of Culture refers to the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes and religion by a group of people attitudes and religion by a group of people generally without thinking aboutgenerally without thinking about them. them.

PhilosophyPhilosophy Consider cultural competence a priority. Consider cultural competence a priority.

Culture is dynamic, therefore cultural Culture is dynamic, therefore cultural competence must be an on-going competence must be an on-going process.process.

Cultural competence is the effective use Cultural competence is the effective use of social and interpersonal knowledge and of social and interpersonal knowledge and skills that demonstrates understanding skills that demonstrates understanding and appreciation of individual and group and appreciation of individual and group differences and similaritiesdifferences and similarities. .

Cultural Diversity in the Cultural Diversity in the WorkplaceWorkplace

Cultural diversity in the workplace Cultural diversity in the workplace provides strength. It also challenges provides strength. It also challenges individuals to respond to their diverse individuals to respond to their diverse work environment effectively. work environment effectively.

““Valuing” individual and group cultural Valuing” individual and group cultural differences is critical to achieving the differences is critical to achieving the organizational goals.organizational goals.

Cultural AwarenessCultural Awareness Know yourKnow your own cultural background.own cultural background.

Recognize your own stereotypes and biases.Recognize your own stereotypes and biases.

Gain knowledge of cultural history and Gain knowledge of cultural history and heritage.heritage.

Be aware of other’s perceptions.Be aware of other’s perceptions.

Recognize effects of Recognize effects of -ism-ism on the others. on the others.

Teaching ToleranceTeaching Tolerance

Tolerance is defined as “recognition Tolerance is defined as “recognition of and respect for the opinions, of and respect for the opinions, practices or behavior of others.”practices or behavior of others.”

Remember . . .Remember . . .

People long People long to be celebrated, to be celebrated,

not tolerated!not tolerated!

Forming a TeamForming a Team

There are three important characteristics There are three important characteristics of teams: size, diversity and of teams: size, diversity and interdependence.interdependence.

Teams diverse in skill sets and knowledge Teams diverse in skill sets and knowledge levels, as well as ethnicity and culture, levels, as well as ethnicity and culture, perform better than those with identical perform better than those with identical skills sets. skills sets.

Diversity actually decreases team conflicts Diversity actually decreases team conflicts and enhances creativity.and enhances creativity.

ARE YOU PART OF THE ARE YOU PART OF THE TEAM?TEAM?

ABMHC’s Cultural Diversity ABMHC’s Cultural Diversity Committee Supports Committee Supports

SCDMH’s FocusSCDMH’s Focus To teach employees communication and To teach employees communication and

conflict resolution techniques to be used in conflict resolution techniques to be used in the framework of working with a culturally the framework of working with a culturally diverse population whose members may diverse population whose members may solve problems in very different ways. solve problems in very different ways.

ABMHC’s Cultural Diversity ABMHC’s Cultural Diversity Committee Supports Committee Supports

SCDMH’s MissionSCDMH’s Mission

To support the Recovery mission through To support the Recovery mission through the continual development of a culturally the continual development of a culturally aware, culturally knowledgeable, and aware, culturally knowledgeable, and culturally skilled workforce.culturally skilled workforce.

Cultural Diversity ActivitiesCultural Diversity Activities

Multicultural Calendars (cultural Multicultural Calendars (cultural information divided by the month, holiday information divided by the month, holiday and country)and country)

ReadingsReadings QuizzesQuizzes Fact sheetsFact sheets Other tools that foster dialogue and Other tools that foster dialogue and

questions within the organizationquestions within the organization

Why are Activities Why are Activities Important?Important?

They help clinicians reach clients who may They help clinicians reach clients who may benefit from a more hands-on or practical benefit from a more hands-on or practical learning experience.learning experience.

They encourage clients to become actively They encourage clients to become actively involved in the therapeutic process without involved in the therapeutic process without bias, rather than being passive recipients.bias, rather than being passive recipients.

HAVE A HAND IN DIVERSITYHAVE A HAND IN DIVERSITY

FOUR STEPS TO FOUR STEPS TO CULTURAL DIVERSITY CULTURAL DIVERSITY

SUCCESSSUCCESS

I. Leadership DrivenI. Leadership Driven

Create and maintain culturally and linguistically competent services by supporting:

Multiculturalism embedded into all organizational units.

Continued efforts to recruit, retain and develop a culturally diverse workforce.

II. Staff OrientedII. Staff Oriented

Support cultural competency of Support cultural competency of the staff. the staff. 

III. Client OrientedIII. Client Oriented

To support and promote the To support and promote the involvement of clients, families involvement of clients, families and advocacy groups in the and advocacy groups in the planning and development of planning and development of care.care.

IV. Information DrivenIV. Information Driven

To support monitoring and dissemination of  the level of cultural awareness, knowledge and skills

Life Without DiversityLife Without DiversityClose your eyes and imagine that everyone in the room is the same. Exactly the same! Same hair, eye color, height, weight, gender, race, language. Everyone dresses the same and sounds the same.

Now open your eyes, look to your left and your right.

What do you see?

ONE MIND, ONE RACEONE MIND, ONE RACE

DO YOUR HOMEWORKDO YOUR HOMEWORK Learn about other cultures.Learn about other cultures.

Know respectful behavior.Know respectful behavior.

Identify a cultural guide.Identify a cultural guide.

Gain entry into the community.Gain entry into the community.

ConclusionConclusion

Learning about and accepting diversity Learning about and accepting diversity can can

improve your interpersonal effectiveness improve your interpersonal effectiveness and increase your personal and and increase your personal and

professional professional opportunities.opportunities.

Cultural Diversity Cultural Diversity in the Workplacein the Workplace

Resource: http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/multi_culture/home.html

If any additional information regarding this presentation is

needed, please contact Terry Miller or Cynthia Smith.

Thank You For Your Time!

The Cultural Diversity Committee at ABMHC