The Multicultural Family Institute of Highland Park NJ and the Office of Prevention Services and Research (OPSR) of University Behavioral HealthCare, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey have developed the Cultural Competence Training Center (CCTC) through the support of a NJ State funded Division of Mental Health Services, Office of Multicultural Affairs contract. The aim of the CCTC is to provide training and technical assistance to agencies in central New Jersey. The Cultural Competence Training Center melds the expertise and resources of the Multicultural Family Institute (MFI) and the Office of Prevention Services and Research (OPSR), making us a unique resource for agencies in New Jersey who are endeavoring to diminish disparities in mental health services and to increase their cultural competence in service delivery. The CCTC directors and core faculty, Monica McGoldrick, Paulette Moore Hines, Nydia Garcia-Preto and Peter Guarnaccia, have designed a training program for regional agencies to support the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services for racial and ethnic minorities. In its first two years the CCTC has worked closely with the leadership and professional staff of 10 agencies in central New Jersey and has offered a wide range of trainings to mental health professionals of numerous other agencies through its programs.
The CCTC directors were previously involved in a three-year “Workforce Cultural Competency Training Grant” by SAMHSA, one of only 4 project sites awarded in the nation. The goal of that research initiative was to develop and evaluate a multi-pronged approach to workforce cultural competence. More recently, under the leadership of Paulette Hines, Ph.D., the project team developed a cultural competence training program for Emergency Medical Services and Public Health Professionals. The CCTC’s partnership between OSPR-BRTI and MFI is thus able to capitalize on the already piloted training model, lessons learned, and resources developed during these earlier initiatives.