Cox and Beale (1997) view cultural competency as the ability to “effectively respond
to the challenges and opportunities posed by the presence of socio-cultural diversity in
a defined social system.” Hurdle (2002) posits that cultural competency is the
“development of adequate professional skills to provide services to ethnic, racial, and
cultural groups”. The US Department of Health and Human Services (2002) sees
cultural competence as “comprising behaviors, attitudes, and policies that can come
together on a continuum: that will ensure that a system agency, program or individual
can function effectively and appropriately in diverse cultural interactions and
settings”. Brach and Fraser (2000) see cultural competency as an “ongoing commitment
or institutionalization of appropriate practices and policies for diverse populations.
While Bush (2000) defines cultural competency as a (respect for, and understanding of,
diverse ethnic and cultural groups, their histories, traditions, beliefs, and value
systems” in the provision and delivery of services.