DHHS, Health Resources and Services Administration

"How do we know cultural competence when we see it?" is the central question that prompted the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to sponsor a project to develop indicators of cultural competence in health care delivery organizations. The Assessment Profile builds upon previous work in the field, such as the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) , and serves as a future building block that advances the conceptualization and practical understanding of how to assess cultural competence at the organizational level. The Assessment Profile is an analytic or organizing framework and set of specific indicators to be used as a tool for examining, demonstrating, and documenting cultural competence in organizations involved in the direct delivery of health care and services. At a general level, the Profile can help organizations frame and organize their perspectives and activities related to the assessment of cultural competence. More specifically, it can be used in routine performance monitoring, regular quality review and improvement activities, assessment of voluntary compliance with cultural competence standards or guidelines, and periodic evaluative studies.

"Throughout the engagement, Lewin consultants listened to us and delivered superb analyses and thoughtful guidance–not canned solutions."  NONPROFIT HEALTH SYSTEM