Assessing Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Respite Care Programs

2022

Assessing cultural and linguistic competence (CLC) of respite care programs and services is essential in order to be responsive to the interests and needs of the diverse population of people with disabilities and older adults in the U.S. Although there is a need for more research, current studies indicate that Black/African-American, Native American or Alaska Native, Asian, and Latino/Latinx/Hispanic populations are less likely to access respite services. While there are an array of tools and instruments that assess organizational CLC in health care and other fields, there is a void among such tools that address the cross-section of organizations concerned with respite care in general and disability and aging in particular. Georgetown National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC), in partnership with ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center, are collaborating to fill this void by creating a tool and process to assess CLC for the national network of respite programs, emphasizing those funded by Administration for Community Living (ACL), HHS. The NCCC will examine the experiences of those providing and receiving respite care services nationally by convening a series of virtual listening sessions and conducting structured interviews for: (1) respite care providers, State Lifespan Respite Grantees, and State Respite Coalition representatives to ascertain the challenges and successes of providing respite care to diverse populations; and (2) parents and family caregivers from racially, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse backgrounds on their experiences with accessing and receiving respite services. The NCCC will use data collected, and its past experience in developing CLC tools, to inform, create, and pilot test an assessment instrument/checklist specifically for respite care programs. The instrument/checklist will be designed to: (1) plan for and incorporate culturally and linguistically competent values, policies, structures, and practices in respite care organizations and programs; (2) enhance the quality of care, supports, and services provided to diverse populations that reside in the US and tribal nations; and (3) advance CLC as an essential approaches to address racial and ethnic disparities and promote equity for older adults and persons with disabilities and their families. Four programs will be selected to pilot test the assessment instrument/checklist and process, and their input will be used to modify as appropriate. Subsequently, the assessment instrument/checklist will be launched nationally via webinar hosted by the ARCH National Respite Network. It is anticipated that the instrument/checklist will be useful across ACL-funded and other programs that provide respite care, support, and services to diverse populations of persons with disabilities, older adults, and their families.

cultural competence, linguistic competence, respite care

Developing & Disseminating Information

Quality of Life, Other - Cultural Diversity

Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, Legislators/Policy Makers

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Reservation, Rural/Remote, Urban, Specific Groups, Other

National

N/A