The cultural proficiency capacity building model for organizational and systems accountability

Abstract

Overview: Reportedly, the Black Community represents over 80% of all HIV/AIDS cases in the State of Maryland, now ranking first (1st) in the nation for Blacks/African Americans living with AIDS. This two-phased project presents a capacity building model to incite community and public administration practitioner involvement to collectively ensure the delivery of equitable, accountable, ethical, effective, efficient, high-quality, responsive, and sustainable HIV prevention and treatment programs while striving toward an idealistic, milestone target of cultural proficiency1 in order to achieve any resemblance of cultural competence. Method: Phase I, a participatory action research approach, describes preliminary issue formulation, formation of a community action movement to hold accountable stewards of public funds and development of a model to incite ethical and culturally proficient decision making in the public administration of HIV prevention and health services. Phase II, evolution of the model, provides scholarly inquiry through qualitative data analysis of archival documents to determine what the State did, is doing, or proposes to do, to remedy the spread of HIV/AIDS in Maryland and ensure for equitable and culturally proficient responses to HIV/AIDS in Maryland. Conclusion: Analysis of State archival documents on HIV prevention and health services does not evidence fulfillment of federally promulgated Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Standards (CLAS). The researcher recommends adoption of a capacity building model to garner support and provide direction toward cultural proficiency in the delivery of HIV prevention and health services.