Cultural Competence - 2011

Welcome to this training on cultural competence provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).


The goal of this module is to introduce Texas Health Steps (THSteps) providers and others to the best practices that promote cultural competence and increase the ability of providers to resolve health care access issues related to the diverse characteristics of their clients.

Target Audience

Texas Health Steps providers and other interested health-care professionals.

Specific Learning Objectives


  1. Recognize what is meant by cultural competence in the context of providing health-care services for children and adolescents.
  2. Indicate two ways in which professional ethics can affect the delivery of culturally competent health care.
  3. Choose two principles of medical ethics.
  4. Examine informed consent and the situations that affect a patientâ€™s ability to give informed consent.
  5. Determine two legal implications of informed consent regarding how the Texas Medical Liability and Insurance Improvement Act addresses informed consent.
  6. Given a case study, apply two ways to deliver health-related services in a culturally competent manner.
  7. Identify who is best qualified to act as an interpreter between a health-care provider and a patient who is not proficient in English.
  8. Evaluate the role that cultural competence plays in establishing and maintaining medical homes for children.
  9. List at least two action steps leading to improved cultural competence in health-care settings.
  10. Choose two places to access additional information and resources to improve health-care practice with children and adolescents and their families.