The understanding of the social, linguistic, ethnic and behavioral characteristics of a community or population and the ability to systematically translate that knowledge into practices in the delivery of behavioral health services. Such understanding may be reflected, for example, in the ability to: identify and value differences; acknowledge the interactive dynamics of cultural differences; continuously expand cultural knowledge and resources with regard to populations served; collaborate with the community regarding service provisions and delivery; and commit to cross-cultural training of staff and develop policies to provide relevant, effective programs for the diversity of people served.
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