Diverse Needs: Fostering Cultural Competence

Our society is becoming more diverse—not only in terms of race and ethnicity, but also in terms of how people identify themselves. What used to be a relatively simple question, “Who are you?” can now open the door to a wide range of answers. The AASC Code of Ethics states that “Service Coordinators shall have an ethical obligation to have a knowledge base of their residents’ culture and background, and be sensitive to the diversity of their residents, encouraging acceptance among different cultural groups.” In this module, we will explore diversity, cultural competence and overcoming stereotypes.