Cultural Competence for Public Managers

AppendixCultural Competence Literature and Legislation

The theoretical roots of cultural competence are in the federal requirements for culturally competent delivery of services to immigrant and minority communities (Johnson, Lenartowicz, and Apud 2004). The federal requirements were a response to the health disparities in immigrant and minority communities. The various cultural differences were creating misunderstandings and problems across the cultural barriers. Cultural competence arose as a mechanism to bridge those cultural gaps in health care delivery.

Legislation and Its Contribution to Cultural Competence

Bailey (2010), in her chapter titled “Cultural Competency and the Practice of Public Administration” in Diversity and Public Administration: ...