Abstract
The ability to provide effective, quality health care to clients from different cultures is becoming increasingly important to health care providers from all disciplines (Davidhizar, Bechtal, & Gregory, 1998). The United States census reported that by the year 2000, one third of Americans would be members of an ethnically diverse cultural group. The developmental process of the cultural competency continuum is often misunderstood and/or left out of many cultural competency and sensitivity training programs, resulting in the inadequate preparation of trained health professionals. When organizational systems and/or professionals strive to become culturally competent, they must first perform an assessment of self. A case study approach of the Project Sugar research study will be used to examine cultural competency and identify its placement on the Cultural Competency Continuum. Tools to retain cultural prurience will also be offered.
