Practicing cultural competency and valuing diversity and inclusion can benefit individuals and organizations in many ways. Below you will find potential benefits of CCDI that may apply to individuals and/or organizations. The following is not an exhaustive list.
Cultural Competency Improves Quality of Services by
- Ensuring that services reach and are accessible to those who need them
- Increasing the effectiveness of services and interventions by honoring clients of all cultures and identities
- Fostering a sense of safety and belonging among clients
- Making services more strategic and, therefore, more cost-effective
- Helping organizations and providers remain relevant by offering services that meet the needs of an increasingly diverse world
- Enhancing communication and the accessibility of services by attending to the language needs of clients and the community
- Developing providers’ and organizations’ decision making which can result in more successful interventions and effective helping relationships
Cultural Competency Fosters Respect, Creativity & Productivity by
- Empowering organizations, providers, clients, and the community through education and connection
- Encouraging providers and organizations to effectively and respectfully meet the increasingly multicultural needs of clients, the community, and the world at large
- Increasing creativity, productivity and the breadth of perspective by diversifying who is involved in planning and delivering services
- Helping organizations value and appreciate clients, employees, and partners by teaching the value of diversity
- Cultivating a sense of community and connection
Cultural Competency Promotes Justice by
- Deepening individuals’ knowledge and understanding of themselves and others through self-awareness and critical self-reflection
- Enhancing individuals’ and organizations’ knowledge and understanding of cultures, identities, power and privilege, and encouraging them to share that knowledge with others
- Expecting individuals and organizations to interact with all people in a thoughtful and respectful manner
- Emboldening individuals and organizations to advocate for people who are marginalized, oppressed, and discriminated against
- Encouraging individuals and organizations to challenge imbalances of power and systems of oppression