Cultural Competency and Diversity Plan

It is the intent of Mau Loa Learning that its employees behave in a manner representative of its ethical and/or moral commitment to provide quality treatment services to its recipients.

It is the policy of Mau Loa Learning to maintain a written Cultural Competency and Diversity Plan that describes how the linguistic and cultural needs of our recipients are met. It is our policy to effectively provide services to recipients of all cultures, ages, races, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, languages, ethnic backgrounds, spiritual and religious beliefs in such a way that recognizes, affirms, values, respects the worth of, and protects and preserves the dignity of every individual. Mau Loa Learning adheres to the equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination practices. Mau Loa Learning policy is implemented by the following plan and practices.

Cultural Competency and Diversity Plan Introduction

Cultural competence is an integral part of Mau Loa Learning. Those employed by Mau Loa Learning who are in direct contact with recipients and families will demonstrate the following:

  • Recognize, value, affirm and respect the worth of each individual recipient and family and protect and preserve the dignity of each;

  • Utilize appropriate resources to ensure linguistic needs of the recipient and family are met;

  • Assess recipient and family acculturation to aid in matching families with appropriate community-based resources and provide appropriate health and rehabilitation education;

  • Utilize culture-specific information provided in training and/or employee orientation to assist in identifying and determining the cause of culture-based issues and miscommunication and to resolve them.

Mau Loa Learning ensures non-discriminatory and respectful services to recipients and families by employing both internal and external cultural competency practices. Ongoing improvement and widespread dissemination of these efforts evidence Mau Loa Learning’s commitment to the provision of culturally appropriate services and care. Mau Loa Learning accommodates, facilitates, treats, and assists recipients with a wide variety of disabilities from mental and physical disabilities to those recipients with medical diagnoses and disorders.

All employees, recipients, and families have access to the Mau Loa Learning Cultural Competency and Diversity Plan upon request.

Internal Cultural Competency and Diversity Practices

Mau Loa Learning seeks staff members that are committed to their community, represent a variety of cultural backgrounds, and are capable of interactions in cross-cultural situations. Discrimination is not tolerated and employees will conduct services in a manner that recognizes, affirms, values, respects the worth of, and protects and preserves the dignity of every individual.

Translation services will be provided to any recipient, when necessary and requested. The interpreter will assist with translating any intake, treatment plans, evaluation, or other documents shared with the family. Mau Loa Learning will provide interpreter services to recipients and families as necessary when requested to ensure the availability of effective communication regarding medical treatment, health information, or health education. Interpreters are available when technical, medical, or treatment information is to be discussed or where the use of a family member or friend as an interpreter is inappropriate. If a client is bilingual, Mau Loa Learning will invoke the assistance of a professional who will handle interpretations. Mau Loa Learning will also seek professional assistance to handle the needs of any individual with a speech and hearing impairment.

Mau Loa Learning will provide comprehensive, behaviorally and theoretically based cultural competency training and education periodically as well as on-demand as needed.

Characteristics of the training include:

  • Acceptance and respect for differences

  • Careful attention to dynamics of difference

  • Continuous expansion of cultural knowledge and resources Training is based upon the following learning techniques:

    • Assessment and awareness of personal biases, values, and expectations

    • Content on general culture-specific attributes (family structures, language use for various groups, and recipients with a wide variety of physical and linguistic disabilities).

All trainings are accessible through Central Reach Institute at no cost to the employee.

External Cultural Competency Practices

Employees are notified of their responsibilities pertaining to delivering culturally competent care and may obtain a copy of the Cultural Competency and Diversity Plan by contacting their Human Resource department.