Cultural humility is an orientation towards how services are provided. It is based on self-reflexivity and assessment, appreciation of clients’ expertise on their lives, openness to establishing power-balances relationships with youth, and a willingness and dedication to keep learning. Cultural humility means cultivating a lens where we admit that we do not know, and we are willing to learn from youth about their experiences. It refers to an intrapersonal and interpersonal approach that cultivates patient-centered care (22). The practice of cultural humility includes not only gaining cultural knowledge and developing self-awareness, but also holding systems accountable, understanding and addressing power imbalances , and disrupting inequitable systems (23). It includes recognizing and actively addressing and dismantling institutionalized forms of oppression and discrimination (e.g., racism, heterosexism/homophobia, homophobia, ageism/adultism, sexism, transphobia, housism, anti-immigrant sentiment, anti-Native populations) as well as the implementation of an intersectional lens to the work.
Toolkits and resources for Cultural Humility :
-
Project READY. Module on Cultural Competence and Cultural Humility
-
Project READY. Module on Building Relationships with the Community and Community Asset Mapping
