BHS-005 — Cultural Competency in Behavioral Health

COURSE DESCRIPTION — BHS-005: Cultural Competency in Behavioral Health
Credit Hours: 1.0 contact hours

Culture profoundly shapes how people understand mental health, whether they seek help, and how they respond to care. For home care workers serving diverse communities, cultural responsiveness is not optional — it is an essential professional competency. This course moves beyond surface-level cultural awareness to equip direct care staff with practical skills for providing genuinely respectful, effective behavioral health support across cultures.

Drawing on the framework of cultural humility, this course challenges caregivers to examine their own biases, engage clients as cultural partners, and adapt their communication and care approaches to the individual — not the stereotype.

This course covers:
– How culture shapes beliefs about mental health, help-seeking, and healing
– Cultural humility vs. cultural competency: a more effective framework for diverse care
– The impact of language barriers on behavioral health care and proper interpreter use
– Common cultural considerations: stigma, family/community decision-making, spiritual frameworks
– Implicit bias and its effects on care quality and equity
– LGBTQ+ clients: affirming care, preferred names/pronouns, and minority stress

Audience: HHAs, CNAs, PCAs, DSPs, and all direct care staff.
Credit Hours: 1.0 contact hours
References: Tervalon & Murray-Garcia (1998). Cultural Humility | SAMHSA (2014). Improving Cultural Competence | Office of Minority Health Cultural Competency Standards | MN DHS Multicultural Services | National LGBTQ Task Force Health Resources