Providing Culturally Sensitive Services to Latino Clients: A Case Study of a Non-Profit Organization

This paper describes an evaluation of a non-profit human service organization's attempts to provide culturally sensitive services. Systems and constructivist theoretical perspectives are used to examine the problematic of providing effective and meaningful counseling and educational services to Spanish-speaking, Latino immigrant clients The two models of achieving cultural sensitivity—cultural compatibility and cultural competency—are assessed. Findings reveal that service was hindered by the ghettoization of Latino providers, external constraints on service delivery, role conflicts among Latino providers, and institutional silence and uncertainty about multicultural issues. These problems indicate that culturally sensitive service requires that culturally compatible services be incorporated in an organization that promotes culturally competent policies and