Respect for diversity relates to many aspects of interacting with others who may or may not share your culture or worldview. By acknowledging differences and acquiring cultural knowledge, consultants can better understand behavior within a cultural context and build the capacity to engage, communicate, and provide services to diverse children, staff, and families more effectively. Respect for diversity includes:

• Acknowledging cultural differences: Awareness that everyone has a unique world view, influencing ways of understanding, communicating, and interacting; including notions of wellness and illness as well as perceptions and acceptance of services and supports that address emotional and behavioral health concerns.
• Acquiring cultural knowledge and skills: Finding ways to expand knowledge and build skills to enhance their capacity to work with others across cultural contexts and with diverse groups.
• Understanding behavior within a cultural context: Viewing behavior and the expression of values, attitudes, and beliefs through a cultural lens; for example, understanding the concepts of family, identity, child development, parenting, education, and intervention within a cultural context.
• Building capacity to communicate effectively: Finding ways to convey information in a manner that is easily understood by children, families, and program staff from diverse backgrounds and abilities, including persons of limited English proficiency and low literacy skills.