1. What is cultural competency and why does it matter?

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Cultural competency in times of emergency

Cultural competency is your ability to recognize, understand, and adapt to cultural differences in ways that foster trust, respect, and effective service delivery. It involves developing the knowledge, awareness, and skills needed to engage meaningfully with people from diverse backgrounds.

In emergency settings, cultural competency ensures that you can provide care that is equitable, accessible, and responsive to the needs of different communities. By acknowledging cultural influences on health, communication, and decision-making, you can improve outcomes and strengthen relationships with those you serve.

Occupational cultural competency

Beyond general cultural competency, you also need to understand the occupational cultures of those you serve. Occupational cultural competency builds upon cultural sensitivity — the recognition that cultural factors shape experiences, identities, and interactions. In emergency settings, this means acknowledging how occupational stressors, traditions, and values influence responders, front-line workers, and their communities.

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Key domains of cultural competency

The cultural competency framework consists of four key domains:

Domain	Application
Awareness	Recognizing your own biases, assumptions, and perceptions.
Sensitivity	Acknowledging and valuing the lived and living experiences of others.
Knowledge	Understanding how occupational roles shape risks, access to care, and community needs.
Skills	Applying culturally informed actions that improve engagement and service delivery.

Awareness 

Awareness is the first step in developing cultural competency. It requires you to recognize how occupational life influences health, well-being, and access to care.

Building awareness means:

• Recognizing that occupational roles shape the health and well-being of active and previously serving members, their families, and communities.
• Reflecting on your own perceptions, assumptions, and biases about specific occupations and those who work in them.
• Understanding how your perspectives may influence care relationships.
• Engaging in ongoing self-reflection and openness to learning.

Sensitivity

Sensitivity is your ability to emotionally acknowledge the lived and living experiences of those you serve. It involves valuing their perspectives and being motivated to provide culturally informed care.

Practicing sensitivity means:

• Committing to culturally informed care for occupational communities.
• Seeking knowledge to improve the quality of care and services.
• Recognizing how occupational life events impact access to and availability of care. 

Knowledge

Knowledge is the external process of understanding occupation-specific risks, experiences, and health concerns.

Developing knowledge means:

• Understanding how occupational demands and stressors shape the lived and living experiences of workers, families, and communities.
• Recognizing how occupational risks affect access to services in civilian systems.
• Being aware of the health risks occupational communities face across the life course.
• Knowing the resources, programs, and support systems available for occupational groups.

Skills

Skills are the actions you take to apply cultural competency in practice. They reflect your ability to engage, adapt, and advocate effectively.

Demonstrating skills means:

• Engaging with others in an empathetic, non-judgmental, and respectful manner.
• Addressing how occupational experiences shape health and well-being.
• Using flexibility, creativity, and support to overcome barriers to care.
• Collaborating with community organizations and service providers.
• Advocating for equitable access to services and support.