Competencias para la equidad en comunidades culturalmente diversasconceptualización y medida de la competencia cultural comunitaria

Resumo

Complex migration flows are transforming Europe, which has become a cultural diverse society now. Addressing the multiple needs of immigrants and their communities is a challenge for the host communities, where public services’ providers represent an important asset to avoid inequities and promote integration and wellbeing. To attain this, multiple efforts have focused on promoting the cultural competence of providers, but these efforts have not been very effective in generating real changes in professional practices, organizations and communities. In addition, Europe is facing a socio political crisis that makes it unavoidable to review the concept of cultural competence from a perspective that emphasizes the respect for human rights and social justice. This study provides solutions to these challenges from a Community psychology perspective. We developed the model of Community Cultural Competence (CCC), defined as a process of personal development that takes place at different ecological levels (i.e., intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community) and implies critical thinking, diversity management skills, capacity to act within the organization and capacity to act within the community. We also assume that CCC will impact positively on wellbeing and equity. The objective of this study was to offer evidence of the CCC model validity, as well as to promote its practical application in organizations and communities. This non-experimental transversal study was developed in southern Spain with 525 public service providers from different territorial areas that sum up the culturally diverse communities of Andalucía. Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire called the Instrument of Cultural Community Competence (ICCC), developed ad hoc, and other instruments to measure other related variables. Results revealed through several structural equation models, that CCC is a firstorder construct composed by the four proposed dimensions which act at different ecological levels. Moreover, CCC appears to positively influence service providers’ social justice beliefs, their occupational wellbeing, and perceived influence in work contexts. On the other hand, the ICCC appears to be a reliable and valid way to asses CCC and offers graphic tools which facilitate the interpretation and practical application of its results. Finally, several differences in the level of CCC of service providers were found as a function of socio-demographic characteristics (i.e. type of context, type of service offered). These results were supported by community forums, in which community gatekeepers reflected about the study’s results at the local level and their potential applications. In conclusion, the CCC model, and the ICCC and its graphic tools, offer theoretical and practical contributions to professional training and to the design of improvement actions at different ecological levels (service providers, organizations and communities). These will impact positively the equity and wellbeing of both the people who offer the services and those who receive them.