Cultural competence in afterschool programs.

Abstract

Increasing ethnic diversity among American youth, in combination with funding priorities often targeting underserved populations, has increased the number of diverse youth attending afterschool programs (ASPs). At present, there is little guidance on how to best design ASPs and prepare staff to support the development of these diverse youth. The fields of medicine and education have begun to explore the impact of cultural competence at the organizational, structural, and professional levels to help bridge potential cultural divides. This chapter will briefly review the literature on cultural competence and emerging evidence within ASPs. It will then provide concrete examples of how afterschool programs have infused culturally tailored content and/or staff trainings to build cultural competence. Finally, specific recommendations will be made to serve as a springboard for future research and practice.